Chemical constituents from the fruits of Melia azedarach (Meliaceae)

Abstract A new apotirucallane-type triterpenoid, 3α-benzoate triterpenoid A (1), along with six known triterpenoids (2–7), one aromatic ester (8) and eight lignans (9–16), were isolated from the fruits of Melia azedarach Linn. The structure of 1 was determined by spectral analyses, including HR-ESI-MS, 1D NMR (1H NMR and 13C NMR) and 2D NMR (HSQC and HMBC) analyses. 10, 11 and 16 were reported for the first time from the family Meliaceae, 8 was identified from the genus Melia for the first time, and 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12–15 were obtained from M. azedarach for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of these compounds is discussed.