Antitumour and anti-AIDS triterpenes from Celastrus hindsii.

Four new triterpene compounds, celasdin-A, celasdin-C, anti-AIDS celasdin-B and cytotoxic maytenfolone-A, were isolated from Celastrus hindsii. The structural determination of maytenfolone-A, celasdin-A, celasdin-B and celasdin-C, as well as the structure-activity relationships of these new compounds and derivatives, are discussed. Maytenfolone-A was further confirmed by X-ray studies. Biological evaluation showed that Maytenfolone-A demonstrated cytotoxicity against hepatoma (HEPA-2B, ED50 = 2.3 micrograms ml-1) and nasopharynx carcinoma (KB, ED50 = 3.8 micrograms ml-1). Celasdin-B was found to exhibit anti-HIV replication activity in H9 lymphocyte cells with an EC50 of 0.8 microgram ml-1).