Ailanthusins A-G and nor-lupane triterpenoids from Ailanthus triphysa.

Bioactivity-guided chemical investigation of the CH2Cl2 and CH2Cl2MeOH extracts of the stem and stem bark material of Ailanthus tryphysa (Simaroubaceae) led to the isolation of five cycloapotirucallanes, ailanthusins A-E, two malabaricanes, ailanthusins F-G, and one nor-lupane triterpenoid, 29-nor-lup-1-ene-3,20-dione along with twenty known compounds. Their structures were elucidated through the application of extensive spectroscopic methods, and the structure of ailanthusin A was further confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Several malabaricane derivatives were prepared from malabaricol and, together with some of the isolates, were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against human cancer and normal cell lines.