A dammarane triterpene from Commelina undulata

The chemical investigation of Commelina undulata afforded, in addition to 2-heneicosanone, n-octacosanol, sitosterol and sitosterol-β-d-g     

Rubinic acid,a triterpene acid from rubus fruticosus

A new triterpene acid, rubinic acid, was isolated from the chloroform extract of the leaves of Rubus fruticosus. On the basis of physical methods and chemical degradation experiments, its structure was determined as 7α-hydroxyursonic acid.     

Quadranguloside,a cycloartane triterpene glycoside from Passiflora quadrangularis

Quadranguloside, a new cyclopropane triterpene glycoside was isolated from the methanolic extract of the leaves of Passiflora quadrangularis. Its structure has been established as 9,19-cyclolanost-24Z-en-3β,21,26-triol-3,26-di-O-gentiobioside on the basis of hydrolysis and spectral evidence.     

Rubitic acid,a new triterpene acid from Rubus fruticosus

A new triterpene acid, rubitic acid was isolated from the alcoholic extract of the whole plant of Rubus fruticosus. On the basis of physical methods coupled with chemical investigations, the structure of rubitic acid was shown to be 7α-hydroxy ursolic acid.     

Bacogenin-A1: A novel dammarane triterpene sapogenin from Bacopa monniera

The constitution of bacogenin-A₁, obtained from the acid hydrolysate of bacoside-A, has been established as 3,18-dihydroxy-20 → 25-epoxy-22(or 23)-methyl-24-nor-dammar-22-en-16-one. The treatment of di-O-acetylbacogenin-A₁ with RuO₄ led to a diol instead of the usual dioxo product.     

Vergatic acid,a new pentacyclic triterpene from Salvia virgata

A new pentacyclic triterpene acid was isolated from the arial parts of Salvia virgata and its constitution was established as 3β-hydroxy-1-oxo-olean-12-en-28-oic acid and named virgatic acid.     

Periandrin III,a novel sweet triterpene glycoside from Periandra dulcis

Periandrin III, a new sweet triterpene glycoside of the roots of Pepiandra dulcis, has been shown to possess the structure 3-β-O-[β-d-g     

A new triterpene lactone from Gymnocladus dioica

2β,23-Dihydroxyacacic acid lactone was isolated from Gymnocladus dioica as an artifact from 2β, 3β 16β, 21β, 23-pentahydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oic acid.     

Ursadiol: a new triterpene diol from Calendula officinalis flowers

A new triterpene diol was isolated from dry Calendula officinalis flowers. Its structure was proved as 3,21-di-OH-ursa-12-en.     

Distribution of triterpene alcohols in subcellular fractions from Calendula officinalis flowers

The distribution of the triterpene mono- and dihydroxy alcohols was investigated in the subcellular fractions of the flowers of Calendula officinalis. The triterpene monols were found mainly in the chromoplast fraction (68% of total) with smaller amounts in the cell debris, microsomal and supernatant fractions, the mitochondrial fraction was almost devoid of these compounds. Triterpene diols were present exclusively in the chromoplast fraction, 98% in the form of the 3-monoesters and 2% in the form of diesters. It is suggested that the hydroxylation of the triterpene monols to the corresponding diols proceeds in the chromoplasts and the esterified form of the monols is probably the substrate for this reaction.     

Periandrin II and IV,triterpene glycosides from Periandra dulcis

Investigation of the natural sweeteners of Periandra dulcis afforded new sweet triterpene glycosides, periandrin II (3-β-O-[β-d-glucuronopyranosyl-(1→-2)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-25-formyl-olean-12(13)-en-30-oic acid) and periandrin IV (3-β-O-[β-d-glucuronopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl]-25-hydroxyolean-12(13)-en-30-oic acid). Evidence for the structures was obtained by correlation of their derivatives with known compounds.     

3S,24S,25-Trihydroxytirucall-7-ene from Ailanthus excelsa

A new triterpene has been isolated from the root bark of Ailanthus excelsa (Simaroubaceae) and identified as 3S,24S,25-trihydroxytirucall-7-ene.     

Jacoumaric acid,a new triterpene ester from Jacaranda caucana

Jacoumaric acid isolated from Jacaranda caucana is shown to be 2α-hydroxy-3β-trans-p-coumaryloxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid.     

A new triterpene,betulafolienpentaol, from Betula platyphylla

A new triterpene, betulafolienpentaol, 3α,12β,17,20,25-pentahydroxy dammar-23-trans-ene and two other known triterpenes were isolated from Betula platyphylla. The latter compounds were identified as betulafolientetraol and betulafolientetraol-A, respectively.     

Isomotiol,a new triterpene from strychnos potatorum

Isomotiol (fern-8-en-3β-ol) was isolated from the leaves of Strychnos potatorum; it was not known previously as a natural product, but it has been obtained by acidic isomerization of compounds with a fern-7-ene or a fern-9(11)-ene skeleton. From the leaves and the bark mixtures of sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol were also isolated.     

The pentacyclic triterpene Esters and the free,esterified and glycosylated sterols of Sorghum vulgare grain

The free, esterified and glycosylated sterols and triterpene esters of Sorghum vulgare grains were analysed by GLC. 4-Demethylsterols were found free, esterified and glycosidated. 4-Monomethyl-sterols were found completely free whilst the triterpenes were completely esterified. Three quarters of the total sterols in the grain were located in the embryo whilst the triterpenes were equally distributed between the embryo and endosperm.     

The CCoAOMT1 gene from jute (Corchorus capsularis L.) is involved in lignin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana

The Caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) is a key enzyme in lignin biosynthesis in plants. In this study we cloned the full-length cDNA of the Caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) gene from jute using homology clone (primers were designed according to the sequence of CCoAOMT gene of other plants), and a modified RACE technique, subsequently named “CcCCoAOMT1”. Bioinformatic analyses showed that the gene is a member of the CCoAOMT gene family. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that the CcCCoAOMT1 gene is constitutively expressed in all tissues, and the expression level was greatest in stem, followed by stem bark, roots and leaves. In order to understand this gene's function, we transformed it into Arabidopsis thaliana; integration (one insertion site) was confirmed following PCR and southern hybridization. The over-expression of CcCCoAOMT1 in these transgenic A.thaliana plants resulted in increased plant height and silique length relative to non-transgenic plants. Perhaps the most important finding was that the transgenic Arabidopsis plants contained more lignin (20.44–21.26%) than did control plants (17.56%), clearly suggesting an important role of CcCCoAOMT1 gene in lignin biosynthesis. These data are important for the success of efforts to reduce jute lignin content (thereby increasing fiber quality) via CcCCoAOMT1 gene inhibition.     

Pentacyclic triterpene triols from calendula officinalis flowers

From the flowers of Calendula officinalis five pentacyclic triterpene trihydroxyalcohols were isolated and identified as: olean-12-ene-3β,16β,28-triol, lup-20(29)ene-3β,16β,28-triol, tarax-20-ene-3β,16β,22α-triol, tarax-20-ene-3β,16β,30-triol and ursa-12-ene 3β,16β,21-triol, by chromatographic and spectroscopic means.     

Isoflavone,wax and triterpene constituents of Wyethia mollis

The hexane extract of Wyethia mollis contains the n-alkanes C₁₅-C₁₈, C₂₀-C₂₅, C₂₇ and C₂₉. Linoleic acid was the only detectable acidic component. A mass spectral analysis of the wax ester fraction indicated that it was a mixture of homologues, the saturated even-carbon acids n-C₁₆-C₃₀ esterfield with the saturated even-carbon alcohols n-C₁₈-C₂₆. The chloroform extract yielded the known isoflavones santal and 3′-O-methylorobol along with a new lanostane-type triterpene, 22,25-epoxy-lanosta-7:9(11)-dien-3-one. The wide distribution of n-alkanes and the decreased odd-even carbon ratio are consistent with the proposed primitive nature of this plant.