Triterpenoids from Acokanthera schimperi in Ethiopia

The studies on the leaves of Acokanthera schimperi, a traditional herb of Ethiopia, afforded eight triterpenoids, including a new triterpenoid ester, lupan-20-ol-3(b)-yl 3-hydroxyoctadecanoate (1), along with seven known triterpenoids, lupeol (2), 28-nor-urs-12-ene-3b,17b-diol (3), ursolic aldehyde (4), 3b-hydroxy-oleana-11,13(18)-dien-28-oic acid (5), alagidiol (6), oleanolic acid (7) and ursolic acid lactone (8). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR techniques and X-ray diffraction analysis.