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Fifteen cycloartane triterpenes were isolated from Beesia calthaefolia and among them one was new cycloartane triterpenoid. The structure of new compound was determined by the application of spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods. The fifteen compounds were evaluated for their anticomplement activity by classic pathway. The structure-activity relationship analysis indicated that the configurations of 12-OH is preferable to be α than β, and 18-OH can decrease while 15-OH can increase the anticomplement activity, but saponin with both 15-OH and 18-OH lost most of its activity. The glycosyl moiety of most isolated cycloartane triterpenes is xylosyl. When xylosyl was substituted by glucosyl or galactosyl, their anticomplement activities were decreased or increased, respectively. Further structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies must be carried out to achieve general conclusions regarding the effect of further functionalizations on the anticomplement saponins.

Compound 1, a triterpenoid saponin from Ardisia gigantifolia Stapf. showing potential anti-tumor activity, was transformed into three derivatives (2-4) by Aspergillus avenaceus 3.4454. Among them, compounds 2 and 3 are new compounds. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D NMR, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and optical rotation data. Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma and normal liver cells by cell counting kit 8 colorimetric assay. Compound 3 displayed better cytotoxicity against Bel-7402 and HepG2 cell lines and much weaker cytotoxicity against normal liver L02 cell than that of positive control (epirubicin hydrochloride).

A new triterpenoid saponin, named 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 3)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-3β,16α,28,30-tetrahydroxy-olean-12-ene (1), along with four known triterpenoids (2-5), was isolated from the rhizomes of Ardisia gigantifolia. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1-4 showed cytotoxic activity against Hela, EJ, BCG, and HepG-2 cell lines. The percentage of early apoptotic cells after treatment with 1 was significantly increased compared with control cells (p < 0.05).

Three new dibenz[b,f]oxepins: 6-methoxy-7-methyl-8-hydroxydibenz[b, f]oxepin (1), 1,8-dimethoxy-6-hydroxy-7-methyldibenz[b, f]oxepin (2), and 1-hydroxy-6,8-dimethoxy-7-methyldibenz[b,f]oxepin (3), along with two known dibenz[b,f]oxepins pacharin (4) and bauhiniastatin 4 (5), were isolated from Cercis chinensis Bunge (Leguminosae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence (EI-MS, UV, IR, (1)H, (13)C and 2D NMR). Compounds 1-5 were isolated from the Cercis genus for the first time.