Bioassay-guided fractionation of Crataegus pinnatifida (Rosaceae) gave two
cytotoxic ursane-type triterpenes which were identified as uvaol (1) and ur
solic acid (2) by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. 3-Oxo-ursolic
acid (3) was synthesized from ursolic acid (2) by Jones method. The cytotox
ic activities of these compounds were tested against murine L1210 and human
cancer cell lines (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF498, and HCT15) in vitro. Co
mpounds 1 and 2 showed moderate cytotoxicities against L1210, whereas they
showed weak activities against human cancer cell lines. However, compound 3
exhibited potent cytotoxic activities both in murine and in human cancer c
ell lines.