The methanol extract of dried root outer bark of Tripterygium hypoglau
cum (Levl.) Hutch afforded five new triterpenes: 2,3-seco-2,24-epoxy-D
:A-friedoolenane-2, 24-olide-29-oic acid named celastolide, 2,23-dihyd
roxy-3-methoxy-6-oxo-1,3,5(10), 8-tetraene-24-nor-D:A-friedoolenane-29
-oic acid, 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-6-oxo-1,3,5(10), 8-tetraene-24-nor-D :
A-friedoolenane-29-oic acid, 2,3-dihydroxy-1,3,5(10), 8-tetraene-24-no
r-D: A-friedoolenane-29-oic acid and 3 beta,11 alpha-dihydroxy-13(18)-
ene-oleanane named triptohypol A, B and C and hypodiol, and two new di
terpenes: 3 beta,14,19-trihydroxy-abieta-8,11,13-triene and 19(4-3)-ab
eo-abieta-3,8,11,13-tetraene-19,18-olide named triptobenzene J and K,
and 18 known compounds. Their structures were established on the basis
of chemical and spectroscopic studies. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.