Triterpene saponins from Fagonia scabra Forssk and other Fagonia species

• Eight compounds were isolated from Fagonia scabra for the first time.
• Six compounds were isolated from genus Fagonia for the first time.
• Luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside was a chemotaxonomic marker of F. scabra.
• It is the first luteolin flavonoid isolated from Zygophyllaceae family.
• Saponins from F. scabra were compared with other saponins from Fagonia species.

This article reports on the structure of triterpenoids saponins (1–49) isolated from Fagonia species. In addition, it describes one known flavonoid (50) with luteolin as aglycone and seven known triterpenoid saponins (26, 51–56) isolated from the aerial parts of Fagonia scabra Forssk. Compounds 50–56, were isolated for the first time from the genus Fagonia, while compounds 50–53, 55–56 have never been encountered in the Zygophyllaceae family. The chemotaxonomic relationship between F. scabra and other Fagonia species was also discussed.