[Study on the constituents of petroleum ether fraction of Buxus microphylla].

OBJECTIVE

To study the chemical constituents from the petroleum ether fraction of Buxus microphylla.

METHODS

The petroleum ether fraction of Buxus microphylla was isolated and identified by silica gel column chromatography. And the anticancer activity of different chemical constituents was measured by MTT reduction test.

RESULTS

Eight compounds were isolated and identified as lupeol (1), butulin (3), beta-sitosterol (4), stigmasterol (5), dibutyl phthalate (6), 3beta, 30-dihydroxy-lup-20 (29) ene (7), daucosterol (8). Compound 7 inhibited KB cells' proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

Compounds 2 - 5, 7, 8 are isolated from this genus for the first time. Compound 7 has certainly anticancer effects.