Noncytotoxic 16,23-epoxycucurbitacin-type triterpenoids from Elaeocarpus hainanensis

Abstract

Phytochemical investigation of methanol extract from Elaeocarpus hainanensis Oliv. leaves and twigs led to the isolation and structural determination of three 16,23-epoxycucurbitacin-type triterpenoids, including a new hydroperoxide, 16α,23α-epoxy-3β,20β-dihydroxy-24α-hydroperoxy-10αH,23βH-cucurbit-5,25-dien-11-one (elahainencin A, 1), and two known analogs (2 and 3). Their chemical structures were determined by the spectroscopic analyses, including 1 D-, 2 D NMR and HR ESI MS spectra. Compound 1 represents a cucurbitacin derivative incorporating a hydroperoxide. In addition, these isolated compounds have been found to be noncytotoxic when tested in vitro against five human cancer cell lines (A549, T24, 8505, Huh-7 and SNU-1) by using the SRB method.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Elaeocarpus hainanensis Oliv.;16,23-epoxycucurbitacin-type triterpenoid
• hydroperoxide
• elahainencin A
• noncytotoxic activity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors wish to thank the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development of Vietnam (NAFOSTED) for financial support (Project code 40/2021/TN006).