Abstract: Two steroidal saponins were isolated from the rhizome of Aspidistra elatior. On the basis of detailed chemical and spectrascopic evidence, their structures were elucidated to be diosgenin-3-0-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(l-2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl(l-3)]-β-D-glucopyrano-syl(1-4)-β-D-galactopyranoside(aspidistrin)and neobotogenin-3-0-[β-D-glucopyranosyl(l - 2)]-[β-D-xylopyranosyl(l- 3)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl(l- 4)-β-D-galactopyranoside respectively. The latter is new steroidal saponin and named a neoaspidistrin.

Key words: Liliaceae