Isolation of Pentacyclic Triterpenes From Simira Sampaioana (Standl.) Steyerm (Rubiaceae) as Possible Anticancer Agents

Botanical genus Simira belongs to Rubiaceae and its more than 40 species are predominantly neotropical and woody. Simira sampaioana (Standl.) Steyerm is popularly known as Arariba or Maiate in the brazillian states of Minas Gerais, Gois, So Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and its wood is widely used in reforestation. Phytochemical study of alcoholic extract from the leaves of this plant, aiming the search of bioactive natural products and its chemical constitution as part of a future metabolomic study, led to the isolation and identification of four acid triterpenes. 1D and 2D NMR andn HRESIM-MS confirmed the identity of these terpenoid substances as pomolic acid, sumaresinolic acid and the position isomers hederagenin and 23-hydroxy-ursolic acid. Pomolic acid, hederagenin and 23-hidroxyursolic acid have significant biological activities, especially as antitumoral and anti-inflammatory agents. This is the first report of a phytochemical study of this Rubiaceae species and these isolated substances have never been found in the genusSimira so far.