Synthesis of madecassic acid derivatives and their cytotoxic activity.

Fifteen new 28-amide derivatives of madecassic acid, isolated from the tropical medicinal herb <italic>Centella asiatica</italic> (Apiaceae), have been synthesised, and their cytotoxicity on three cancer cell lines, KB (carcinoma cancer), HepG2 (liver cancer) and Lu-1 (lung cancer), was evaluated. The results showed that acetylation of the 2,3,23-hydroxyl group and/or amidation of the 28-COOH group strongly increased the cytotoxicity of the synthesised compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]