Triterpenoids from Pulsatilla chinensis.

A new lupane type triterpenic acid, pulsatillic acid, and two new lupane type triterpenoid glycosides, pulsatilloside A and B, along with the known 23-hydroxybetulinic acid were isolated from the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis. Their structures were characterized as 3-oxo-23-hydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid, 3 beta, 23-dihydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside and 3 beta, 23-dihydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside on the basis of hydrolysis and spectral evidence including two-dimensional relay HOHAHA, one-dimensional multiple relay COSY and ROESY NMR techniques. Pulsatillic acid exhibited cytotoxic activities against P-388, Lewis lung carcinoma and human large-cell lung carcinoma.