Bioactive steroids from the whole herb of Euphorbia chamaesyce

Three new ergostane-type steroids, 3 beta-hydroxy-4 alpha,14 alpha-dimethyl-5 alpha-ergosta-8,24(28)-dien-11-one (1); 3 beta,11 alpha-dihydroxy-4 alpha,14 alpha-dimethyl-5 alpha-ergosta-8,24(28)-dien-7-one (2); and 3 beta,7 alpha-dihydroxy-4 alpha,14 alpha-dimethyl-5 alpha-ergosta-8,24(28)-dien-11-one (3), were isolated, together with two known triterpenoids, wrightial and lup-20(30)-ene-3 beta,29-diol from the whole herb of Euphorbia chamaesyce. Compound 3 showed a potent inhibitory effect on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation induced by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA).