A New Ursane-Type Triterpene from the Roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge

Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) is a one of the most well-known medicinal herbs in the Oriental medicine for treatment of certain cardiovascular disoders. Our current research on triterpenoid component in danshen roots led to the isolation of a new highly hydroxylated ursane-type triterpene, urs-12,20(30)-dien-3β,7β,24-triol-28-oic acid (2) and one known triterpene, epiasiatic acid (1). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses including NMR and MS spectra and comparison with literature data. The new compound 2 showed medium activity against HL-60 cells with the IC50 value of 16.3 μM. The obtained results of unique bioactive triterpenes from danshen contributed not only to its phytochemical profile associated with chemotaxanomy but also to biological evidence of the title plant.