This is the first report for secondary metabolites in an African medicinal plant,
Pachyelasma tessmannii(Leguminosae). Four novel saponins, pachyelasides A-D, were isolated from the methanol extractof the root bark by using recycling HPLC. These compounds showed molluscicidal activity (LD
50 ![](/images/entities/le.gif)
8.0
![](/images/entities/mgr.gif)
g/mL) against the South American snail,
Biomphalaria glabratus. The structures were determinedon the basis of extensive nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic and matrix-assisted laserdesorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric studies.Keywords: Saponin; pachyelaside;
Pachyelasma tessmannii; Leguminosae; molluscicide;
Biomphalariaglabratus