A new triterpenoid and eremophilanolide from Ligularia przewalskii

Abstract A phytochemical study of the ethanolic extract of Ligularia przewalskii (Maxim.) Diels led to the isolation of two new terpenoids, (1βH,3βH)-epoxy-olean-13(18)-ene-3α,2-olide ( 1 ) and 8β-hydroxy-(10βH)-14β-methyl-6α-angeloyloxy eremophil-7(11)-en-8α,12-olide-15α-oic acid ( 2 ), along with 22 known compounds ( 3 – 24 ), of which compounds 3 – 13 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1 – 2 were evaluated for their in vitro anti-proliferative activities against Hep-G2 and MCF-7 tumour cell lines. Compound 1 exhibited strong inhibitory activity against Hep-G2 cell growth, in contrast to moderate cytotoxic activity against MCF-7 cells. Although compound 2 showed strong inhibitory activity against MCF-7 cell growth, it appeared to have modest activity against Hep-G2 cells.