Triterpenes and lignans from Artemisia caruifolia and their cytotoxic effects on meth-A and LLC tumor cell lines.

One new triterpene, 3beta-hydroxy-29-norcycloart-24-one (1), and four new lignans, caruilignans (2-5), together with six known compounds were isolated from the aerial part of Artemisia caruifolia BUCH.-HAM. ex TOXB. Their structures were determined by various spectroscopic means. Most of the isolated lignans were moderately cytotoxic to Meth-A cells with ED50 values of 5-10 microg/ml, but not to Lowis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. An oxime derivative of 1 showed more potent cytotoxic activity against Meth-A and LLC cells than the original triterpene 1.