[Study on the constituents of petroleum ether fraction of Buxus microphylla].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents from the petroleum ether fraction of Buxus microphylla.
Methods: The petroleum ether fraction of Buxus microphylla was isolated and identified by silica gel column chromatography. And the anticancer activity of different chemical constituents was measured by MTT reduction test.
Results: Eight compounds were isolated and identified as lupeol (1), butulin (3), beta-sitosterol (4), stigmasterol (5), dibutyl phthalate (6), 3beta, 30-dihydroxy-lup-20 (29) ene (7), daucosterol (8). Compound 7 inhibited KB cells' proliferation in a dose-dependent manner.
Conclusion: Compounds 2 - 5, 7, 8 are isolated from this genus for the first time. Compound 7 has certainly anticancer effects.