[Chemical Constituents from the Roots of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa].

To investigate the chemical constituents of the roots of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa and their antitumor activities.

Various column chromatographic techniques were used to isolate the compounds. The structures were elucidated by their physicochemical properties and spectra data. Moreover, MTT assay was used to evaluate the antitumor activity against melanoma SK-MEI-110 cells.

Thirteen compounds were obtained from the roots of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, and their structures were determined as 2α, 3β, 23-trihydroxyoleana-11,13( 18)-dien-28-oic acid( 1),3β,23-dihydroxyolean-18-en-28-oic acid( 2), lupeol( 3), betulin( 4), betulinic acid( 5), friedelin( 6), β-sitosterol( 7), thero-2, 3-bis-( 4-hydroxy-3-methoxypheyl)-3-methoxy-propanol( 8), evafolin B( 9), β-hydroxypropiovanillone ( 10), 8, 8’-bis-( dihydroconiferyl)-diferuloylate( 11), gallate acid( 12) and methyl gallate( 13).

Compounds 1,2,8 ~ 10 and 13 are isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1 ~ 6 exhibite inhibitory effects on melanoma SK-MEL-110 cells.