Two saponins obtained from the stem bark of Guaiacum officinale were characterised on the basis of chemical and spectral evidence as 3-0-[a.-L­rhamnopyranosyl (1+ 2)-a.-L-arabinopyranosyl]-30-norolean -12,20(29)-dien-28-0­-O-gl ucopyranosyl ester (1) and 3-0-fa.-L-arabi nopyranosyl ]-01 eano 1 i c aci d-28­O-B-D-glucopyranosyl ester (2~ The former saponin was new and named guaianin A2 whereas the latter has been reported previously from Panax japonicus [1].


V U AHMAD ,S BANO ,I FATIMA ,N BANO ,