Triterpene benzoates from the bark of Picramnia teapensis (Simaroubaceae)

Abstract

Two new benzoic acid esters of triterpene alcohols [lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 3alpha,7beta-dibenzoate and 3alpha-hydroxy-lup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid 7beta-benzoate] were isolated from the stem bark of Picramnia teapensis Tul. The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of spectral analyses. Other known compounds, beta-sitosterol, estigmasterol, lupeol and epilupeol, were identified in mixture by GC-MS. The triterpene esters have not shown in-vitro inhibitory effect on the growth of Leucoagaricus gongylophorus (Fisher), referred also as Leucocoprinus gongylophorus (Heim), syn Rozites gongylophora (Möller), the symbiotic fungus cultivated by the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens L.

Keywords

• Triterpene esters
• lupanes
• Picramnia teapensis
• Atta sexdens
• Leucoagaricus gongylophorus