Stylosanthes erecta P. Beauv. (synonym Stylosanthes guineensis
Schum. et Thonn.) (Fabaceae) is an herbal plant, 20-40 cm in
height, occurring mainly in the West African countries Mali,
Senegal, Nigeria, and Congo.1 The decoction of the aerial parts is
used in Malian folk medicine, where it is known as “segoufali”,
for the treatment of urinary and intestinal diseases and particularly
against schistosomiasis.2,3 A study on the characterization of
cysteine proteases in Malian medicinal plants revealed that S. erecta
whole plant acetone-defatted crude extract showed a high papainlike
activity,4 but, to date, no comprehensive phytochemical study
on this plant has been done. As part of an ongoing investigation
on Malian medicinal plants aimed at Traditional Improved Drugs,5,6
we have carried out a chemical study on the aerial parts of S. erecta,
resulting in the isolation and structural characterization of five new
oleanane saponins on the basis of extensive spectroscopic and
spectrometric analysis, including 2D NMR and ESIMS spectra. Four
known flavonol glycosides were also isolated and characterized