PREPARATION OF PROTOESCIGENIN FROM ESCIN

摘要

The invention relates to the process for preparation of protoescigenin from escin isolated from Aesculum hippocastanum. The process comprises the following steps: two-step hydrolysis under acidic and basic conditions, enrichment of the crude mixture of sapogenins with protoescigenin, isolation of the mixture of sapogenins in a solid form, purification of the obtained solid and isolation of high purity protoescigenin. The present invention also relates to protoescigenin monohydrate in a crystalline form and the preparation thereof. Protoescigenin is a polyhydroxyl aglycone, which can be used as the synthon in the chemical modifications of naturally occurring saponis.