A new lupane type triterpenic acid, pulsatillic acid, and two new lupane type triterpenoid glycosides, pulsati Uoside A and B, along with the known 23-hydroxybetulinic acid were isolated from the roots of Pulsatilla chinensis. Their structures were characterized as 3-oxo-23-hydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid, 3fl, 23-dihydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 3-O-a-L-arabinopyranoside and 3/3, 23-dihydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 28-0-/3-0- glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-/3-o-glucopyranoside on the basis of hydrolysis and spectral evidence including two-dimensional relay HOHAHA, one-dimensional multiple relay COSY and ROESY NMR techniques. Pulsatillic acid exhibited cytotoxic activities against P-388, Lewis lung carcinoma and human large-cell lung carcinoma.

The roots of several Pulsatilla species (Ranunculaceae) are used for "blood-cooling" and detoxifying effects in traditional Chinese medicine.1 A number of Pulsatilla species, such as P. ambigua, P. chinensis, P. dahurica, P. koreana, and P. turczaninovii, are employed in treating diarrhea, vaginal trichromoniasis, and bacterial infections, and pharmacological investigations have suggested that the triterpene saponins are important bioactive components. 2-6 We have previously reported on the isolation and structural elucidation of new triterpene glycosides such as pulsatillosides A and B from P. chinensis 5 and patensin from P. patens var. multifida.6 Further investigation of the latter plant has now led to the purification of additional saponin constituents. In this paper we describe the isolation of seven saponins, the structures of which were determined with the aid of 1D and 2D NMR (13C, 1H, HMQC, HMBC, and ROESY) techniques, FABMS, and hydrolysis. An extensive search of the literature 7-11 indicated thatcompounds 1-5 are new structures.

Three new cycloDentanold monoterpenes namecl piscrocins A (1) B (2)antl (3) were lsolateclcom the roots of Pic~orhnd sctophulariiflora (scrophulariaceae). The structures ofthese new compounds were establishecl by 1D antl 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques (HHCOSY, HMQC, HMBC, antl NOESY) In combination with X ray clystallographic analysis

Three isoquinoline alkaloids and an isoindole alkaloid, along with eight known compounds, were isolated from the roots of Menispermum dauricum (Menispermacese). The alkaloids were characterized as 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-1(2H)-isoquinolinone, 6,7- dimethoxy-N-methyl-3,4-dioxo-1(2H)-isoquinolinone, 1-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)-7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-isoquinoline and 6-hydroxy-5-methoxy-N-methylphthalimide, on the basis of spectral evidence including 1D-and 2D-NMR and MS analyses.

Two new stenine-type alkaloids, neotuberostemonol (3) and neotuberostemoninol (4), along with the known compound neotuberostemonine (2), were isolated from Stemona tuberosa Lour. Their structures were characterized by X-ray crystallography in combination with spectroscopic methods, and their absolute configurations were inferred from the known configuration of tuberostemonine (1). In the crystalline state, weak C-H O hydrogen bonds play an important role in the molecular packing of 3 and 4. q 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.