Abstract
Scaevola spinescens R. Br. (Goodeniaceae), a West Australian semi-arid native plant, has been found to
contain a number of pentacyclic triterpenoid compounds of the taraxerene type in high
yield compared with other species in which these compounds are known to occur. Isolation
of these molecules, which are potential lead compounds for synthetic anti-cancer drugs,
was achieved by partitioning the diethyl ether-soluble fraction, of the methanol Soxhlet
extract, between hexane and aqueous methanol, followed by base extraction of minor
components from the methanol isolate and recrystallisation or column chromatography.
The major component isolated from the extract, and main subject of this report, is
the pentacyclic triterpenoid, 14-taraxerene-3,28-diol (1; myricadiol).
Key words
Scaevola spinescens
- Goodeniaceae - maroon bush - Australian aboriginal medicine - taraxerenes - myricadiol
