Two new 20α(H)-ursane-type triterpenoids from Ilex cornuta and their cytotoxic activities

Abstract

Two new 20α-ursane-type triterpenoids (1–2) were isolated from the roots of Ilex cornuta, along with three known triterpenoids (3–5). The structures of compounds 1–2 were determined as 3β, 23-dihydroxy-20α(H)-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (1), 3β,19α,23-trihydroxy-20α(H)-urs-12-en-28-oic acid 3β-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (2), on the basis of hydrolysis and spectral evidence, including 1D- and 2D-NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analyses. These pure isolates (1–5) were tested for their cytotoxic activities by MTT assay.

Keywords::

• Ilex cornuta
• Aquifoliaceae
• 3β,23-dihydroxy-20α(H)-urs-12-en-28-oic acid
• 3β,19α,23-trihydroxy-20α(H)-urs-12-en-28-oic acid 3β-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside
• cytotoxic activities

Acknowledgments

This paper was funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions (PAPD). We also thank Mrs Li-Ping Shi from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences for the determination of NMR spectral data.