Terpenoids from the Chinese liverwort Plagiochila pulcherrima and their cytotoxic effects.

Three new pimarane-type diterpenoids, 7β,11α-dihydroxypimara-8(14),15-diene (1), 1β,11α-dihydroxypimara-8(14),15-diene (2), and 11α-hydroxypimara-8(14),15-diene (3), five 2,3-secoaromadendrane-type sesquiterpenoids, including a new one, ethyoxyplagiochiline A2 (4), and three known fusicoccane-type diterpenoids were isolated from the Chinese liverwort Plagiochila pulcherrima. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 6 and 7 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity on the proliferation of human cancer cell lines Hela, A172, and H460. Moreover, the cytotoxicity of compound 6 to Hela cells was related to apoptotis as confirmed by DAPI nuclear staining and flow cytometry.