A new oleanolic-type triterpene glycoside from Anchusa italica.

A new oleanolic-type triterpene glycoside, (3β,21β)-21-[(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-3-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (1), together with five analogues, oleanazuroside 1 (2), oleanazuroside 2 (3), 24-hydroxytormentic acid ester glucoside (4), 24-epi-pinfaensin (5), and oleanolic acid 3-O-α-l-arabinoside (6) were isolated from the n-butyl alcohol extract of Anchusa italica. Their structures were determined spectroscopically and compared with previously reported spectral data. Compounds 3-4 and 6 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines, but only compound 6 showed moderate cytotoxicity.