Two Bioactive Pentacyclic Triterpene Esters from the Root Bark of <i>Hibiscus syriacus</i>

Abstract

Two new triterpene caffeates have been isolated from the root bark of Hibiscus syriacus. Their structures were established through various spectral studies as 3beta,23,28-trihydroxy-12-oleanene 23-caffeate (1) and 3beta,23,28-trihydroxy-12-oleanene 3beta-caffeate (2). Compounds 1 and 2 showed lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity and significant cytotoxicity against a panel of human cancer cell lines.