Octanorcucurbitane and cucurbitane triterpenoids from the tubers of Hemsleya endecaphylla with HIV-1 inhibitory activity.

Two new cucurbitacins, endecaphyllacins A (1) and B (2), together with six known analogues (3-8), were isolated from the tubers of Hemsleya endecaphylla. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by NMR and MS spectroscopic analysis. The relative stereochemistry of 1 was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 4 (cucurbitacin B) showed potent anti-HIV-1 in C8166 cells (EC=0.09 microg/mL) with a selectivity index of 16.7.