Phytochemical investigation of the roots of Maytenus royleanus resulted into the isolation of a new cytotoxic triterpene ficusonic acid, 3β,21β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid, together with three known compounds, 3α,22β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid, salaspermic acid and orthosphenic acid, reported for the first time from this source. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic techniques. The cytotoxic activity of compound 3β,21β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid was evaluated against two cancer cell lines, PC-3 prostate and HeLa cervical cancer lines. 3β,21β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid showed weak activity against PC-3 (IC50 = 35.42 µmol L-1) however against HeLa (IC50 = 20.47 µmol L-1), its activity was moderate.
Celastraceae; Maytenus royleanus; roots; cytotoxicity; ficusonic acid
