Constituents of Shashen (Adenophora axilliflora)

Abstract

From the ethyl acetate extract of the Chinese drug “Shashen”, the root of Adenophora axilliflora Borb., three triterpenoids, cycloartenol acetate (1), lupenone (2) and β-sitosterol (3), two triterpenoid derivatives, β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-sitosterol (7) and its 6-O-palmitoyl ester (6), along with two coumarins, (+)-praeruptorin A (4) and 3′-angeloyl-4′-isovaleryl-(3′S, 4′S)cis-khellactone (5) have been isolated. A detailed ¹H-NMR analysis of compounds 6, 7 and their acetates is reported. The structure of the partial hydrolysis product of 5 is revised on the basis of spectroscopic evidences and mechanistic considerations.