Constitution of scheffleroside: a spermicidal saponin from Schefflera capitata.

While screening Indian plants for biological activities, it was observed that a 2% aqueous solution of the crude 70% aqueous ethanolic extract of Schefflera capitata showed significant activity against both rat and human spermatozoa. The new saponin, melting point 230-232 degrees, gives on acid hydrolysis D(+)-fucose (1 mole), D(+)-galactose (1 mole), D(+)-glucoronic acid (1 mole) and echinocystic acid (1 mole). Its structure has been tentatively assigned to scheffleroside.