Uncarilic Acid and Secouncarilic Acid, Two New Triterpenoids from Uucaria sessilifructus

Two new compounds, the 6-oxo oleanane-type triterpenoid uncarilic acid, and its 5,6-secotriterpenoid derivative, secouncarilic acid, were isolated from the hooks and stems of Uucaria sessilifructus together with seven known ursane-type triterpenoids. Uncarilic acid is the second 6-oxo oleanane-type triterpenoid ever reported, while secouncarilic acid is the first oleanane-type 5,6-secotriterpenoid. A plausible biosynthetic pathway from uncarilic acid to secouncarilic acid was also postulated. The inhibitory activities of all the nine compounds against LPS-induced nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 macrophages were evaluated.