Triterpenes from Perilla frutescens var. acuta and Their Cytotoxic Activity

Nine triterpenes were isolated from the petroleum ether and MeOH extract of Perilla frutescens var. acuta leaves. Their structures were determined to be arjunic acid (1), maslinic acid (2), oleanolic acid (3), euscaphic acid (4), tormentic acid (5), 3-O-trans-p-coumaroyltormentic acid (6), 28-formyloxy-3b-hydroxy-urs-12-ene (7), ursolic acid (8), and corosolic acid (9) by spectroscopic methods. The compounds 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7 were isolated for the first time from this plant and the Genus Labiatae. The isolated compounds (1-9) were tested for cytotoxicity against four human tumor cell lines (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT-15) in vitro using a Sulforhodamin B bioassay. KCI Citation Count: 4