Highly hydroxylated triterpenes from Salvia kronenburgii.

The three new triterpenes (1-3) and five known triterpenes and a sterol were isolated from the acetone extract of a Turkish collection of Salvia kronenburgii. The structures of the new triterpenes were established as 1beta,2alpha-dihydroxy-3beta-acetoxy-11-oxours-12-ene (1), 2alpha,20beta-dihydroxy-3beta-acetoxyurs-9(11),12-diene (2), and 1beta,2alpha-dihydroxy-3beta-acetoxyurs-9(11),12-diene (3) on the basis of spectral analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopy. It is probable that compounds 2 and 3 are artifacts from dehydration of the corresponding allylic alcohols. 1beta,2alpha,3beta,11alpha-Tetrahydroxyurs-12-ene (5), the most abundant compound in the extract, was found to be highly cytotoxic to renal, non-small cell lung, and breast cancer cell lines.