Objective: To study the chemical constituents from 70% ethanol fraction of Aralia taibaiensis cortex and evaluate its potential in sustainable utilization as medicinal resources from pharmacodynamics.Method: The 3 kg A. taibaiensis cortex medicinal materials were crushed into coarse powder

extracted by 70% ethanol

and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain extract. The extract was added with appropriate amount of water to get the sample solution which was then adsorbed by 101 macroporous resin column chromatography. Water and 70% ethanol were used for elution and two corresponding fractions were obtained. The 70% ethanol fraction was separated and purified by silica gel column chromatography

Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography

semi-preparative HPLC and recrystallization

and their structures were identified by NMR and MS

physicochemical properties and reference literature.Result: Twelve triterpenoid saponin compounds were obtained and elucidated as araliasaponin Ⅻ(1)

chikusetsusaponin 1(2)

chikusetsusaponin Ⅳa(3)

tarasaponin Ⅴ(4)

yuzhizioside Ⅳ(5)

elatoside F(6)

araliasaponin Ⅱ(7)

araliasaponin Ⅵ(8)

araliasaponin Ⅲ(9)

araloside A(10)

narcissiflorine(11)

and 3-O-[β-D-rhamnose(1→2)-α-L-arabinose]-28-O-[β-D-glucose(1→6)-β-D-glucose] oleanlic acid(12).Conclusion: Compounds 6-9 and 12 were isolated from Aralia taibaiensis for the first time. Compound 5 was isolated from A. chinensis cortex for the first time.