Cycloartane triterpenes from dikamali, the gum resin of Gardenia gummifera and Gardenia lucida.

We report on the chemical investigation of dikamali gum, which is the resin of Gardenia gummifera and G. lucida (Rubiaceae). Six new cycloartane triterpenes, dikamaliartanes A-F (1-6, resp.), together with a known flavonoid (7), were isolated and identified by NMR spectroscopy. All six cycloartanes are characterized by an open A-ring with a free COOH group at C(3). In four of them, the C-atoms C(23)-C(27) form a 4-methylfuran-2-yl moiety. Bacterial assays using Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, and Mycobacteria have been carried out but did not reveal significant activity.