[Advances in studies on chemical constituents and pharmacological activities from plants of Symplocaceae].

The chemical constituents and pharmacological activities on the genus of Symplocos were reviewed. Their constituents mainly included triterpenes and triterpenoid saponins, flavonoids, iridoids, lignans, alkaloids, polysaccharides and ellagic acids. A number of species among them have been used as folk medicine for the treatment of fever, detoxifying, acesodyne and hemostasis.

Bioactive triterpenoids from Symplocos chinensis.

A new triterpenoid, 2beta,3beta,19alpha,24-tetrahydroxy-23-norurs-12-en-28-oic acid (4), together with three known triterpenoids 3-oxo-19alpha,23,24-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (1), 2alpha,3beta,19alpha,23-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (2), 2alpha,3alpha,19alpha,23-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (3), was isolated from the roots of Symplocos chinensis. The new triterpenoid shows significant cytotoxic activity against B16 and BGC-823 cells.