Pentacyclic triterpenoids with antimicrobial activity from the leaves of Vernonanthura patens (Asteraceae)

Vernonanthura patens (Kunth) H. Rob, is native to Mexico and South America and found in dry or wet forests or pine forests. They are reaching in height from 0 to 1865 meters above sea level (masl). They are distributed throughout South America, in Central America: Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and northern South America: Venezuela, western South America: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Three pentacyclic triterpenoids from the leaves were isolated by chromatographic (Colum Chromatography (CC) and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC)) techniques. The structures of these isolated compounds were identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopic and MS analysis as lupeol, epilupeol and acetyl lupeol. Lupeol and epilupeol showed antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium notatum, whereas acetyl lupeol was inactive.