New Cytotoxic Triterpenoids from the Aerial Parts of Euphorbia sieboldiana

Phytochemical investigation of the EtOH extract of Euphorbia sieboldiana led to the isolation of four new oleanane‐type triterpenoids, (1β,2α,3β,19β)‐1,2,3,19‐tetrahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid, (1β,3β,19β)‐1,3,19‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid, (1β,2α,3β,16β,19β)‐1,2,3,16,19‐pentahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid, and (1β,2α,3β,19β,23)‐1,2,3,19,23‐pentahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid, along with 16 known compounds. Their structures were established by extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, as well as other spectral analyses. Biological evaluation of the four new triterpenoids revealed potent cytotoxic activities against HeLa and Hep‐G2 cells.     

Two New Triterpene and a New Nortriterpene Glycosides from Phlomis viscosa

The isolation and structure elucidation of two new oleanane‐type triterpene glycosides, 29‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐2α,3β,23‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid (=(2α,3β,4α,29α)‐29‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐2,3,23‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid; 1 ) and its C(20)‐epimer, 30‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐2α,3β,23‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid (=(2α,3β,4α,29β)‐29‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐2,3,23‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid; 2 ), and a novel nortriterpene glycoside, (17S)‐2α,18β,23‐trihydroxy‐3,19‐dioxo‐19(18→17)‐ abeo‐28‐norolean‐12‐en‐25‐oic acid β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester (=(1R,2S,4aS,4bR,6aR,7R,9R,10aS,10bS)‐3,4,4a,4b,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,10a,10b,11‐tetradecahydro‐1‐hydroxy‐7‐(hydroxymethyl)‐3′,4′,4a,4b,7‐pentamethyl‐2′,8‐ dioxospiro[chrysene‐2(1H),1′‐cyclopentane]‐10a‐carboxylic acid β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester; 3 ) from Phlomis viscosa (Lamiaceae) are reported. The structures of the compounds were asigned by means of spectroscopic (IR, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and LC‐ESI‐MS) and chemical (acetylation) methods.     

Triterpenoids from Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. Tissue Cultures

A chemical study on tissue cultures from leaves and flowers of E. camaldulensis Dehnh . afforded the new natural product (2α,3β)‐2,3,23‐trihydroxy‐13,28‐epoxyurs‐11‐en‐28‐one (dryobalanolide) together with the known pentacyclic triterpenoids: betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, (2α,3β)‐2,3,23‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid (arjunolic acid), (2α,3β)‐2,3,23‐trihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid (asiatic acid), (2α)‐2‐hydroxyursolic acid, (2α)‐2‐hydroxyoleanolic acid (maslinic acid), as well as β‐sitosterol. The extracts and the isolated compounds were evaluated against eleven human pathogenic microorganisms, exhibiting a very interesting antibacterial spectrum of activities.     

Two Novel Triterpenoids from Portulaca oleracea L.

Two novel triterpenoids, (2α,3α)‐3‐{[4‐O‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl]oxy}‐2,23‐dihydroxy‐30‐methoxy‐30‐oxoolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 1 ) and (2α,3α)‐2,23,30‐trihydroxy‐3‐[(β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl)oxy]olean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 2 ) were isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., and they both showed weak cytotoxic activity assayed with the MTT method.     

Three New 24‐Noroleanane Triterpenoids from Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata

Three new 24‐noroleanane triterpenoids, i.e., 2α,19α‐dihydroxy‐3‐oxo‐24‐norolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 1 ) and 19α‐hydroxy‐3‐oxo‐24‐norolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 2 ), and 2α,3β,19α‐trihydroxy‐24‐norolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 3 ) were isolated from Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata, together with three known compounds, bartogenic acid ( 4 ), ilexgenin A ( 5 ), and aophitolic acid ( 6 ). Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D‐NMR and MS analyses.     

New Polyoxygenated Triterpenoids from Stachyurus himalaicus var. himalaicus

Two new polyoxygenated triterpenoids, stachlic acid A (= (2α,3β)‐2,3,23,29‐tetrahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid; 1 ) and stachlic acid B (= (2α,3α)‐2,29‐dihydroxy‐3,23‐[(1,1‐dimethylmethylene)dioxy]olean‐12‐ene‐28‐oic acid; 2 ), were isolated from Stachyurus himalaicus var. himalaicus. Their structures were established by means of extensive spectroscopic studies and chemical evidence. The purified product 1 was found to have moderate in vitro cytotoxic activity against human Hela cells.     

Sulfated Triterpenes from Lemon Balm

The hydroalcoholic (EtOH/H₂O) extract of matured leaf margins of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) afforded a new 3,23‐disulfate of 2α,3β‐23,29‐tetrahydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ) and a new 23‐monosulfate of 2α,23‐dihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), along with six known compounds, i.e., 23‐monosulfate of 2α,3β,19α,23‐tetrahydroxyurs‐12‐ene‐28‐oic acid 28‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ), 3,5,6‐trihydroxydehydro‐α‐ionol 9‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ), quadranoside III ( 5 ), rosmarinic acid ( 6 ), caffeic acid ( 7 ), and luteolin ( 8 ). All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant, antimicrobial, antimalarial, and cytotoxic activities. Only rosmarinic acid exhibited substantial antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, whereas sulfated terpenes showed considerably lower or no antimicrobial activity.     

Chemical Constituents from the Roots of Schnabelia tetradonta

The new rearranged‐abietane diterpene 1 , the four new triterpenoids 2 – 5 , and the new aminoethylphenyl oligoglycoside 6 , besides 19 known compounds, were isolated from the roots of Schnabelia tetradonta, a Chinese endemic herb. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence as 12,17‐epoxy‐11,14,16‐trihydroxy‐17(15→16)‐abeo‐abieta‐8,11,13,15‐tetraen‐7‐one ( 1 ), 21β‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐2α,3α‐dihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 2 ), 2β,3β,16β‐trihydroxy‐15‐oxo‐28‐norolean‐12‐en‐23‐oic acid ( 3 ), 3β‐[(4‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranuronosyl)oxy]‐2β,16β‐dihydroxy‐28‐norolean‐15‐oxo‐12‐en‐23‐oic acid ( 4 ), 3β‐[(4‐O‐acetyl‐6‐O‐methyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranuronosyl)oxy]‐2β,16β‐dihydroxy‐15‐oxo‐28‐norolean‐12‐en‐23‐oic acid ( 5 ), and 4‐[2‐(acetylamino)ethyl]phenyl O‐6‐O‐[(Z)‐p‐methoxycinnamoyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐O‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐4‐O‐acetyl‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 6 ), respectively.     

Triterpenoids and Iridoid Glycosides from Gentiana dahurica

One new and six known pentacyclic triterpenoids, 1 and 4 – 9 , resp., along with two new and three known iridoid glycosides, 2 and 3 , and 10 – 12 , resp., were isolated from the roots of Gentiana dahurica (‘Qin‐Jiao’). The new structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic and chemical methods as 1β,2α,3α,24‐tetrahydroxyursa‐12,20(30)‐dien‐28‐oic acid ( 1 ), 6′‐O‐acetylgentiopicroside ( 2 ), and 3′‐acetylgentiopicroside ( 3 ). Isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity against the MCF‐7 human breast cancer cell line using the MTT assay. Among them, triterpenoids 2α,3β,24‐trihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 6 ) and 3β,24‐dihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 9 ) were found to have moderate cytotoxic effects with IC₅₀ values of 20.9 and 21.7 μg/ml, respectively. Additionally, the chemotaxonomic significance of the identified secondary metabolites is briefly discussed.     

Chemical Constituents from Craibiodendron yunnanense

A new triterpene, (3β,12β)‐taraxast‐20(30)‐ene‐3,12‐diol (=(3β,12β,18α,19α)‐urs‐20(30)‐ene‐3,12‐diol; 1 ), together with the known compounds ursolic acid, α‐amyrin, β‐amyrin, (2α,3β)‐2,3‐dihydroxyursa‐5,12‐dien‐28‐oic acid, (2α,3β)‐2,3,23‐trihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid, (2S,3S,4R,8Z)‐1‐O‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)‐2‐{[(2R)‐2‐hydroxydocosanoyl]amino}octadec‐8‐ene‐1,3,4‐triol, and (2S,3S,4R,8Z)‐1‐O‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)‐2‐[(palmitoyl)amino]octadec‐8‐ene‐1,3,4‐triol, and quercetin 3‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) were isolated from the leaves of Craibiodendron yunnanense. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral evidence. The last four compounds were identified for the first time in this plant.     

New Triterpenoid Glycosides from Centella asiatica

Four new triterpenoid glycosides named asiaticoside C ( 1 ), D ( 2 ), E ( 3 ), and F ( 4 ) were isolated from the BuOH fraction of the EtOH extract of whole plants of Centella asiatica, together with three known compounds, asiaticoside ( 5 ), madecassoside ( 6 ), and scheffuroside B ( 7 ). Based on FAB‐MS, IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and 2D‐NMR data (HMQC, HMBC, COSY), the structures of the new compounds were determined as (2α,3β,4α)‐23‐(acetyloxy)‐2,3‐dihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 1 ), (2α,3β)‐2,3‐dihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 2 ), asiatic acid 6‐O‐β‐D ‐glycopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 3 ), (3β,4α)‐3,23‐dihydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester ( 4 ).     

Diterpenes from Xylopia langsdorffiana

The phytochemical investigation of Xylopia langsdorffiana A.St.‐Hil. & Tul . led to the isolation of eight diterpenes, i.e., of the four new compounds (5β,7β,8α,9β,10α,12α)‐atisane‐7,16‐diol 7‐acetate ( 1 ), named xylodiol 7‐acetate, (5β,8α,9β,10α,12α)‐16‐hydroxyatisan‐7‐one ( 2 ), named xylopinone, (3α,12Z)‐3‐hydroxy‐ent‐labda‐8(20),12,14‐trien‐18‐oic acid ( 3 ), named labdorffianic acid A, and 8,20‐epoxy‐13‐hydroxy‐ent‐labd‐14‐en‐18‐oic acid ( 4 ), named labdorffianic acid B, and of the four known compounds 5 – 8 , i.e., ent‐kauran‐16‐ol, ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐19‐oic acid, ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐19‐ol, and ent‐trachyloban‐18‐oic acid. The structures were established by IR, HR‐ESI‐MS, and NMR data analysis with the aid of 2D techniques.     

Two New Diterpenoids from Callicarpa pedunculata

Two new diterpenoids, pedunculatic acid A (= (4R,5α,7α)‐7‐ethoxy‐9β,13β‐dioxyabiet‐8(14)‐en‐18‐oic acid; 1 ) and pedunculatic acid B (= (4S,5α,12β)‐8β,14β‐epoxy‐12‐hydroxy‐11‐oxototaran‐19‐oic acid; 2 ), together with three known sesquiterpenoids, were isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Callicarpa pedunculata R. Brown . Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and by high‐resolution mass spectrometry.     

Two New Triterpenoid Glycosides from the Roots of Rosa cymosa Tratt.

Two new triterpenoid glycosides, 3α,19α,23α‐trihydroxy‐2‐oxo‐12‐ursen‐28‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ) and 3α,19α,23α‐trihydroxy‐2‐oxoolean‐12‐en‐28‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ) as well as three known compounds, 2α,3α,19α‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ), 2α,3α,19α,23‐tetrahydroxy‐12‐ursen‐28‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ), and 2α,3β,19α,23‐tetrahydroxyurs‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid ( 5 ) were isolated from 75% EtOH extract of Rosa cymosa. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods. All the isolated compounds displayed moderate inhibitory activity against LPS‐induced NO production in macrophages.     

Foetidissimosides C–F,Novel Glycosides from the Roots of Cucurbita foetidissima

Two novel echinocystic acid (=(3β,16α)‐3,16‐dihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid) glycosides, foetidissimosides C ( 1 ), and D ( 2 ), along with new cucurbitane glycosides, i.e., foetidissimosides E/F ( 3 / 4 ) as an 1 : 1 mixture of the (24R)/(24S) epimers, were obtained from the roots of Cucurbita foetidissima. Their structures were elucidated by means of a combination of homo‐ and heteronuclear 2D‐NMR techniques (COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, HSQC, and HMBC), and by FAB‐MS. The new compounds were characterized as (3β,16α)‐28‐{[O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐O‐6‐deoxy‐α‐L ‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl]oxy}‐16‐hydroxy‐28‐oxoolean ‐12‐en‐3‐yl β‐D ‐glucopyranosiduronic acid ( 1 ), (3β,16α)‐16‐hydroxy‐28‐oxo‐28‐{{O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐O‐[β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→4)]‐O‐6‐deoxy‐α‐L ‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl}oxy}olean‐12‐en‐3‐yl β‐D ‐glucopyranosiduronic acid ( 2 ), and (3β,9β,10α,11α,24R)‐ and (3β,9β,10α,11α,24S)‐25‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐9‐methyl‐19‐norlanost‐5‐en‐3‐yl 2‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 and 4 , resp.).     

New ent‐Pimarane Diterpenes from the Roots of Aralia dumetorum

Four new ent‐pimarane diterpenes were isolated from the EtOH extract of Aralia dumetorum, together with three known compounds involving ent‐pimar‐8(14),15‐dien‐19‐oic acid ( 5 ), ent‐pimar‐8(14),15‐dien‐19‐ol ( 6 ), and ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐19‐oic acid ( 7 ). By detailed analyses of the MS, IR, and NMR data, the structures of four new diterpenes were characterized as (5β,9β,10α,13α)‐pimara‐6,8(14),15‐trien‐18‐oic acid ( 1 ), (5β,7β,9β,10α,13α)‐7‐methoxypimara‐8(14),15‐dien‐18‐oic acid ( 2 ), (5β,9β,10α,13α,14β)‐14‐methoxypimara‐7,15‐dien‐18‐oic acid ( 3 ), and (5β,10α,13α,14α)‐14‐hydroxypimara‐7,9(11),15‐trien‐18‐oic acid ( 4 ). The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1  –  7 were assayed in vitro through MTT method.     

Novel Sesquiterpenoids from Siegesbeckia orientalis

Five new sesquiterpenoids, namely, 8β‐(angeloyloxy)‐4β,6α,15‐trihydroxy‐14‐oxoguaia‐9,11(13)‐dien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 1 ), 4β,6α,15‐trihydroxy‐8β‐(isobutyryloxy)‐14‐oxoguaia‐9,11(13)‐dien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 2 ), 11,12,13‐trinorguai‐6‐ene‐4β,10β‐diol ( 3 ), (1(10)E,4E,8Z)‐8‐(angeloyloxy)‐6α,15‐dihydroxy‐14‐oxogermacra‐(1(10),4,8,11(13)‐tetraen‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 9 ), and (1(10)E,4β)‐8β‐(angeloyloxy)‐6α,14,15‐trihydroxygermacra‐1(10),11(13)‐dien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 11 ), and three new artifacts, (1(10)E,4Z)‐8β‐(angeloyloxy)‐9α‐ethoxy‐6α,15‐dihydroxy‐14‐oxogermacra‐1(10),4,11(13)‐trien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 6 ), (1(10)E,4Z)‐8β‐(angeloyloxy)‐9α,13‐diethoxy‐6α,15‐dihydroxy‐14‐oxogermacra‐1(10),4‐dien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 7 ), and (1(10)E,4Z)‐8β‐(angeloyloxy)‐9α‐ethoxy‐6α,15‐dihydroxy‐13‐methoxy‐14‐oxogermacra‐1(10),4‐dien‐12‐oic acid 12,6‐lactone ( 8 ), together with the three known sesquiterpenoids 4, 5 , and 10 , were isolated from the aerial parts of Siegesbeckia orientalis L. Their structures were established by spectral methods, especially 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectral methods.     

Sesquiterpenoids and Phenylpropane Derivatives from Sonchus uliginosus

Six new compounds were isolated from the whole plant of Sonchus uliginosus, including three eudesmane‐type sesquiterpenoids (1β,6α)‐1,6,14‐trihydroxyeudesm‐3‐en‐12‐oic acid γ‐lactone ( 1 ), (1β,6α)‐1,6,14‐trihydroxyeudesma‐3,11(13)‐dien‐12‐oic acid γ‐lactone ( 2 ), and (1β,6α)‐1,6‐dihydroxy‐14‐O‐[(4‐hydroxyphenyl)acetyl]eudesma‐3,11(13)‐dien‐12‐oic acid γ‐lactone ( 3 ), and three phenylpropane derivatives, 4‐hydroxy‐γ,3,5‐trimethoxybenzenepropanol ( 6 ), γ,3,4,5‐tetramethoxybenzenepropanol ( 7 ), and γ,3,4,5‐tetramethoxybenzenepropanol acetate ( 8 ), together with the two known compounds 4 and 5 . The new structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods, such as IR, EI‐MS, HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and by comparison of the spectroscopic data with those reported for structurally related compounds.     

Two Novel Olean Triterpenoids from Celastrus hypoleucus

Two new triterpenoids, (3β)‐olean‐12‐ene‐3,23‐diol ( 1 ) and (6α)‐6‐hydroxyolean‐12‐en‐3‐one ( 2 ) were isolated from the MeOH extract of the stalks of Celastrus hypoleucus (Oliv .) Warb ., together with the seven known compounds (3β,22α)‐3,22‐dihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐29‐oic acid, β‐amyrin and β‐amyrin palmitate, wilforlide A, wilforilide B, palmitic acid, and β‐sitosterol. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and, in the case of 2 , by X‐ray crystallography. Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity against human cervical squamous carcinoma (Hela) cells.     

Three New Sesquiterpenoids from Echinops ritro L.

From the whole plants of E. ritro L., the three new sesquiterpenoids (3α,4α,6α)‐3,13‐dihydroxyguaia‐7(11),10(14)‐dieno‐12,6‐lactone ( 1 ), (3α,4α,6α,11β)‐3‐hydroxyguai‐1(10)‐eno‐12,6‐lactone ( 2 ), and (11α)‐11,13‐dihydroarglanilic acid methyl ester (=(4β,6α,11α)‐4,6‐dihydroxy‐1‐oxoeudesm‐2‐en‐12‐oic acid methyl ester; 3 ), together with eight known sesquiterpenoids, were isolated. Their structures were elucidated through analysis of spectroscopic data including extensive 2D‐NMR.