Ceanothane- and lupane-type triterpene esters from the roots of Hovenia dulcis and their antiproliferative activity on HSC-T6 cells.

Three ceanothane-type and three lupane-type triterpenoids, as well as three known compounds, were isolated from the roots of Hovenia dulcis (Rhamnaceae), based on LC-MS dereplication. The previously undescribed compounds were determined to be 27-O-protocatechuoyl-3-dehydroxyisoceanothanolic acid, 27-O-protocatechuoyl-3-dehydroxycolubrinic acid, 27-O-protocatechuoyl-3-dehydroxyepicolubrinic acid, 27-O-protocatechuoylbetulinic acid, 27-O-p-hydroxybenzoylbetulinic acid, and 27-O-syringoylbetulinic acid by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic and HR mass spectrometric data analysis. The isolates were examined for their antiproliferative activity in HSC-T6 hepatic stellate cells; compounds 1, 2, 3, and 6 showed IC50 values in the range of 15-50 μM.