Cytotoxic triterpenoids from the root bark of Helicteres angustifolia.

Three new triterpenoids, 3beta-acetoxy-27-[(E)-cinnamoyloxy]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid methyl ester (1), 3beta-acetoxy-27-[(4-hydroxybenzoyl)oxy]lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid (2), and 3beta-acetoxy-27-[(4-hydroxybenzoyl)oxy]olean-12-en-28-oic acid methyl ester (3), together with nine known triterpenoids, 4-12, were isolated from the root bark of Helicteres angustifolia. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods including 2D-NMR experiments. All twelve compounds were tested for their cytotoxic activities against human colorectal cancer (COLO 205), human hepatoma (Hep G2), and human gastric cancer (AGS) cell lines in vitro. Among them, compounds 2, 3, 3beta-O-[(E)-coumaroyl]betulinic acid (6), and pyracrenic acid (7) showed significant cytotoxic activities against human cancer cells COLO 205 and AGS.