Antihepatotoxic Principles of Sambucus formosana

Abstract

In continuation of our work on Sambucus formosana Nakai, a new triterpene ester, named sambuculin A, β-amyrin, and oleanolic acid were isolated and their structures elucidated by physical and chemical methods. Sambuculin A and mixture of α-amyrin and β-amyrin palmitate exhibited strong activity against liver damage induced by CCl₄. Benzoylation of β-sitosterol and the mixture of α-amyrin enhanced the protective activity against CCl₄-produced liver damage.