Objective: To isolate and identify steroidal saponins from the rhizomes of Dioscorea septemloba Thunb.
Methods: The compounds were isolated by solvent extraction, column chromatography on silica gel and ODS, and their structures were elucidated on the base of chemical and spectral analyses.
Results: Three steroidal saponins were isolated from the rhizomes of Dioscorea septemloba Thunb, and their structures were detemined as dioscin (I), protodioscin (II), protogracillin (III).
Conclusion: Compound II and III were obtained from the rhizomes of Dioscorea septemloba Thunb for the first time.