Constituents of Rosaceous Plants. I. Structures of New Triterpenoids from Cowania mexicana

Abstract

In our search for possible anti-tumor-promoters, we carried out an investigation of the leaves and branches of Cowania mexicana D. DON (Rosaceae). Two new cucurbitane type triterpenes, 15-oxo-cucurbitacin F (3) and 15-oxo-23, 24-dihydrocucurbitacin F (4), were isolated together with cucurbitacin F (1) and 23, 24-dihydrocucurbitacin F (2). These triterpenes were inhibitors of Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, a well-known tumor-promoter. The structures of 3 and 4 were determined from 2D-NMR spectral data and difference NOE experiments.