Triterpene Acids from Euscaphis japonica and Assessment of Their Cytotoxic and Anti-NO Activities

Six new triterpenoids, euscaphic acids G–L ( 1 – 6 ), along with nine known triterpene acids, and two known lignans were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the twigs of Euscaphis japonica . This is the first report concerning 1 α ,3 β -dihydroxy-12-oleanen-28-oic acid isolated from a natural source. The structures of the new compounds were established by spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxic and anti-NO production activities for the isolates are also evaluated and discussed; compound 1 , hederagenin ( 11 ), and arjunic acid ( 12 ) showed significant cytotoxicity against NCI-H460 cells, HT-29 cells, and CEM cells (IC 50  = 1.64 ± 0.87, 2.11 ± 1.54, 1.73 ± 0.64 µM, respectively). Some of the isolated triterpenoids showed marginal inhibitions on NO production induced by LPS.