Triterpenic saponin having pharmacological potency

Claim 2

A substantially pure saponin which is the ester of O-β-D-glycosyl-3β-caulophyllogenin and an oligosaccharide comprising two units of L-rhamnose and two units of D-xylose having the formula ##STR2## wherein S is the oligosaccharide comprising two units of L-rhamnose and two units of D-xylose.

Claim 3

Process for obtaining the saponin according to claim 1, which comprises: extracting vegetable matter of the genus Chrysanthellum with an organic solvent; concentrating the organic solvent phase of said extraction; admixing water with said organic phase; removing fats from the admixture of water and organic phase; removing the organic solvent from said admixture; and recovering the saponin from the precipitate and aqueous phase resulting from the removal of the organic solvent.

Claim 4

Process according to claim 2, wherein the saponin is recovered from the aqueous phase by extraction of the aqueous phase with ethyl acetate followed by a mixture of n-butanol and benzene, and the butylic phases are recovered with methanol, following concentration, and treated with activated charcoal; thereafter, the methanol-recovered butylic phases are filtered and dried; and the saponin is separated from the resulting precipitate by pressurized liquid preparative chromatography.

Claim 5

Process according to claim 2, wherein the organic solvent is methanol.

Claim 6

Process according to claim 2, wherein the saponin is recovered from the precipitate by pressurized liquid preparative chromatography.

Claim 7

Process for obtaining the saponin according to claim 1, which comprises: extracting vegetable matter of the genus Chrysanthellum with an organic solvent; concentrating the organic solvent phase of said extraction; admixing water with said organic phase; removing fats from the admixture of water and organic phase; removing the organic solvent from the admixture of water and organic phase; recovering a first precipitate after removal of the organic solvent, and washing and drying said first precipitate; recovering the aqueous phase after removal of the organic solvent; extracting the aqueous phase with ethyl acetate followed by a mixture of n-butanol and benzene, and the butylic phases are recovered with methanol, following concentration, and treated with activated charcoal; thereafter the methanol-recovered butylic phases are filtered and dried yielding a second precipitate; said first precipitate and said second precipitate are combined and the saponin is separated from the mixture by pressurized liquid preparative chromatography.

Claim 8

A pharmacological composition comprising an amount of the saponin according to claim 1 effective to increase capillary resistance while simultaneously reducing capillary permeability and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent.