Triterpenoids from the aerial part of Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lam.) oken (crassulaceae)

Two pentacyclic triterpenoids, 3-friedelanone and lupeol, were isolated from the hexane fraction of the methanol aerial part extract of Bryophyllum pinnatum, a plant used in traditional medicine for treatment of diarrhea, epilepsy, hypertension, cough, jaundice, gout, earache, burns, abscesses, gastric ulcers, amongst numerous indications. The isolation of the compounds was carried out by a combination of column chromatography and preparative thin layer chromatography. The compounds were characterized using 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectral data as well as comparison with reported data. This is the first report of isolation of 3-friedelanone and lupeol from the aerial part of this plant. Keywords: Bryophyllum pinnatum, NMR, Pentacyclic triterpenoids, 3-Friedelanone, Lupeol