Antiplasmodial and cytotoxic effects of the methanol extract, canthinone alkaloids, squalene- and protolimonoid-type triterpenes from Homalolepis suffruticosa roots.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Different species of the Simaroubaceae family are used in traditional medicine to treat malaria. Among these is Homalolepis suffruticosa (syn. Simaba suffruticosa and Quassia suffruticosa), which is native to Central Brazil and popularly known as calunga.

Chemical Constituents of Trichilia hirta (Meliaceae).

A novel oleanane-type triterpene, 15-chloro-β-amyrone (1), was isolated from Trichilia hirta, together with the known compounds taraxer-3-one (2) and β-taraxerol (3), along with two novel esters, 3-(isobutyryloxy)-2,2,4-trimethylpenty palmitate (4) and 3-(isobutyryloxy)-2,2,3-trimethylpenty stearate (5), and the known 3-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethylpentyl isobutyrate (6). These compounds were characterized on the basis of their spectroscopic and HRSEIMS data and by comparison with literature data.