Using combined chromatographic methods, four triterpenoids, 2α,3α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (1), euscaphic acid (2), 2α,3α-dihydroxy-19-oxo-18,19-seco-urs-11,13(18)-dien-28-oic acid (3), and maslinic acid (4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of Vitex limonifolia. Their structures were elucidated by 1D-, 2D-NMR spectra as well as by comparison with those reported in the literature. Compound 3 was reported from Vitex genus for the first time. | Vietnam Journal of Chemistry, International Edition, 55(6): 715-719, 2017 DOI: Triterpenes from Vitex limonifolia Nguyen Thi Kim Thoa2, Ninh Khac Ban1, Do Thi Trang1, Tran My Linh1, Vu Huong Giang1, Nguyen Xuan Nhiem1, Phan Van Kiem2* 1 Institute of Marine Biochemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) 2 Faculty of Basic Science, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology Received 2 December 2017; Accepted for Publication 29 December 2017 Abstract Using combined chromatographic methods, four triterpenoids, 2α,3α-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (1), euscaphic acid (2), 2α,3α-dihydroxy-19-oxo-18,19-seco-urs-11,13(18)-dien-28-oic acid (3), and maslinic acid (4) were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of Vitex limonifolia. Their structures were elucidated by 1D-, 2D-NMR spectra as well as by comparison with those reported in the literature. Compound 3 was reported from Vitex genus for the first time. Keywords. Vitex limonifolia, triterpenoid, ursane, oleanane. 1. INTRODUCTION Vitex is the genus of shrubs and trees and mainly distributed in tropics and subtropics [1]. Since ancient times, civilization used Vitex plants for treating many diseases such as malaria, herpes, itches, dermatitis or controlling menstruation [1]. Phytochemical study of the genus Vitex revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, ecdysteroids, iridoid glucosides, etc. [2]. However, phytochemistry study of this plant has not been studied yet. This paper reported the isolation and structure elucidation of four triterpenes from the methanol extract of the leaves of V. limonifolia. 2. MATERIAL AND METHODS . Plant materials The leaves of Vitex limonifolia Wall. ex were collected in Bachma National Park, Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam in September 2015, and identified by one of the authors, Prof. Dr. Ninh Khac Ban. A voucher specimen was deposited at the Herbarium Institute of Marine Biochemistry, VAST. . General experimental .
