Three new saponins, zanhasaponins, A, B, and C, were isolated from the MeOH extract of the root bark of Zanha africana and were, respectively, identified by spectroscopic methods as 3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-2 beta,16 alpha-dihydroxyolean-12-ene-23,28- dioic acid 28-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (1); 3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-2 beta,16 alpha-dihydroxyolean-12-ene- 23,28-dioic acid 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L- rhamnopyranoside (2); and 3-O-beta-D-glucuronopyranosyl-2 beta,16 alpha-dihydroxyolean-12-ene- 23,28-dioic acid 28-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranoside (3). These saponins proved to be effective in a model of topical inflammation induced by phorbol ester. The cyclitols quebrachitol, pinitol, and bornesitol were also identified.

The molluscicidal and fungicidal properties of DIOSPYROS USAMBARENSIS root bark have been attributed to the naphthoquinone 7-methyljuglone. In addition, the dimeric naphthoquinones isodiospyrin and mamegakinone and 2 artefacts, 2-methoxy- and 3-methoxy-7-methyljuglone have been isolated.