Cardenolides and triterpenoids of the leaves of Thevetia neriifolia

Abstract A new cardenolide, neriifoside, 3β- O -(α- l -acofriosy])-14β-hydroxy-5α-carda-20:22-enolide has been isolated from the fresh, uncrushed leaves of Thevetia neriifolia , along with the cardenolide peruvoside and lupeol acetate previously reported from the seeds and bark of this plant, respectively. A steroid 4,16-pregnadien-12β-hydroxy-3,20-dione and four pentacyclic triterpenes: oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, α-amyrin acetate and β-amyrin acetate, hitherto unreported from this source, have also been isolated. These structures have been elucidated through detailed 1D and 2D NMR studies.