The main utero-contracting activity of an aqueous extract of Ardisia crispa (Thunb.) A. DC. is due to two new tnterpenic saponins called ardisiacrispin A and B, respectively. The saponins were isolated by extraction with n-butanol, followed by chromatography on silica gel columns. Final purification was obtained by reversed phase HPLC. 13CNMR identified the aglycone of both saponins as cyclamiretin A. The structure of the ardisiacrispins was deduced by sugar and methylation analysis in combination with 'H-and '3C-NMR spectral data.Ardisiacrispina-L-arabinopyrano-syl}-16 cz-hydroxy-13 3, 28-epoxy olean-30-al. Ardisiacrispin B is: 313-O-{u-L-rhamnnopyranosyl-(1-s2)-O-13D-glucopyranosyl-(1--.4)-O-3-D-glucopyranosyl-(1--.52)}-a-L-arabinopyranosyl}-16 a-hydroxy-13 3, 28-epoxy olean-30-al. At a concentration in the bath of 8 sg/ml both saponins gave contractive responses of the isolated rat uterus corresponding to 84 % of the contraction caused by a standard dose of acetyl choline (0.2 tg/ml).China a decoction of the plant Ard isia japonica (Thunb.) Bi. is taken to stop cough and uterine bleeding. Ardisia villosa Roxb. is said to be a Chinese remedy for contusions, rheumatic and neuralgic pain, but pregnant women should avoid it. Medicinal use of another 16 species of Ardisia has also been reported (1).A 2 % aqueous acetic acid extract of the roots was found to cause contractions of the isolated rat uterus. At a concentration (in the bath) of 2 mg/mI, the extract gave the same contractile response as a standard dose of acetylcholine (0.2 .tg/ml). This

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