Fourteen 20,24-epoxy-cycloartane triterpenoids, including eight new ones (1–8), were isolated from 95% ethanol extract of the rhizomes of Beesia calthifolia. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods, especially 2D NMR and HRMS techniques. Among them, four new compounds (1–4) possess carbonyl groups at C-16, which were rarely found in cycloartane triterpenoids from this genus. Relative configuration at C-12 in beesioside III (9) and its aglycone (10) was revised to be 12α-OH rather than the reported 12β-OH. Some of the compounds showed potential hepatoprotective activities against human hepatic L02 cell damage induced by d-galactosamine.

Phytochemical investigation of the root tubers of Lindera aggregata resulted in the isolation of five new sesquiterpene lactones, linderagalactones A−E (1−5), along with eight known sesquiterpenoids, 3-eudesmene-1β,11-diol, hydroxylindestenolide, strychnistenolide, hydroxyisogermafurenolide, atractylenolide III, linderane, neolinderalactone, and linderalactone. The structures and relative configurations of 1−5 were determined by spectroscopic methods, especially HRESIMS and 2D NMR techniques. The absolute configurations of 1−4 were defined by comparison of quantum chemical TDDFT calculated and experimental ECD spectra. Linderagalactone A (1) is a halogenated sesquiterpene lactone possessing a unique rearranged carbon skeleton. Linderagalactone E (5), linderane, hydroxylindestenolide, and linderalactone showed hepatoprotective activity against H2O2-induced oxidative damages on HepG2 cells with EC50 values of 67.5, 167.0, 42.4, and 98.0 μM, respectively.

Four new cycloartane triterpenoids, together with the known gardenolic acid B, were isolated from Kleinhovia hospita. The triterpenoids (1−3) contain a unique 21,23-diacetal side-chain, while compound 4 contains two α,β-unsaturated ketone moieties. Their structures and relative configurations were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR and IR. These compounds showed promising hepatoprotective effects on nitrofurantoin-induced cytotoxicity in human liver-derived Hep G2 cells.

The solubility of podophyllotoxin (furo[3′,4′:6,7]naphtho[2,3-d]-1,3-dioxol-6(5aH)-one, 5,8,8a,9-tetrahydro-9-hydroxy-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl), (5R,5aR,8aR,9R)) in ethanol, methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, propan-2-ol, and butan-1-ol from (283.2 to 323.2) K was measured under atmospheric pressure. The solubility of podophyllotoxin in these solvents increases with increasing temperature. The solubility values were correlated with the Apelblat equation.

The solubility of 1,6,6-trimethyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydrophenanthro[1,2-b]furan-10,11-dione (tanshinone IIA) in ethanol, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate from (283.2 to 323.3) K was measured. The solubility of tanshinonone IIA in these solvents increases with increasing temperature. The solubility values were correlated with the Apelblat equation.