Triterpenoids from Brazilian ginseng, Pfaffia paniculata.

Two new nortriterpenoids, pfaffine A and B (1- 2), were isolated from the roots of Pfaffia paniculata Kuntze, along with ten known compounds including four ecdysteroids, ecdysone (3), 20-hydroxyecdysone (4), pterosterone (5), rapisterone (6), five triterpenoids, pfaffic acid (7), pfameric acid (8), mesembryanthemoidigenic acid (9), calenduloside E 6'-methyl ester (10), oleanolic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (11), and one monoterpene glycoside (+)-angelicoidenol-2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (12). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 3 beta,16 beta-dihydroxy-30-norolean-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid (1), and 3 beta-hydroxy-30-norolean-12,20(29)-dien-28-oic acid-28-O-beta-D-glucoside (2) through the extensive analysis of 1D- (1H, 13C, DEPT) and 2D-NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY) spectra, as well as by a chemical method. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart.New York.