[Isolation and identification of Triterpenoid compounds in the fruits of Chaenomeles lagenaria (Loisel.) Koidz].
OBJECTIVE
The fruit of Chaenomeles lagenaria is a commonly used drug in Chinese traditional medicine. It is especially effective on rheumatism. The current work is to find out the chemical basis of its pharmacological activity.


METHODS
All compounds were extracted with organic solvents and separated by silica gel column or thin layer chromatography, and then purified by recrystalization. The structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical reactions and spectral data analysis.


RESULTS
In addition to the compounds reported in our previous work, three triterpenoid compounds were separated and identified as 3-O-acetyl ursolic acid, 3-O-acetyl pomolic acid and betulinic acid respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
It is obvious that triterpenoid compounds are dominant among the chemical constituents of C. lagenaria. But it is still to be clarified whether they are the chemical basis of the drug's pharmacological activity.
Guo
X
X
Pharmacy Department, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433.
Zhang
L
L
Quan
S
S
Hong
Y
Y
Sun
L
L
Liu
M
M
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D019685:Rosales / Q000737:chemistry*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000094062:Betulinic Acid
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053978:Pentacyclic Triterpenes; D014315:Triterpenes; D000094062:Betulinic Acid