New Cytotoxic Cycloartane Triterpenes from the Aerial Parts of Actaea heracleifolia (syn Cimicifuga heracleifolia)

Abstract

One new 15,16-seco-cycloartane triterpene (1), three new cycloartane triterpene glycosides (2 - 4), and five known compounds (5 - 9) were isolated from the aerial parts of Actaea heracleifolia. The chemical structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of NMR analysis, HRTOF-ESIMS data, and other spectroscopic methods. Selected compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against human tumor cell lines (HL-60, SMMC-7721, A549, MCF-7, and SW480) in vitro. Compounds 3 and 4 showed weak activity against the HL-60, A-549, and MCF-7 cell lines with IC 50 values ranging from 21.34 to 36.98 μM.