Mosquitocidal triterpenes from the stem of Duranta repens

Two triterpenes, beta-amyrin and 12-oleanene 3 beta, 21 beta-diol, were isolated as a mixture from the chloroform soluble fraction of an ethanol extract of Duranta repens Linn (Verbenaceae) stem. The structures of the two compounds were confirmed by analysis of their IR, H-1-NMR, C-13-NMR and LC-MS spectral data. The mixture of beta-amyrin and 12-oleanene 3 beta, 21 beta-diol (compound 1) was highly effective against the larvae of the mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae), as a mosquitocide.