STUDIES WITH TISSUE-CULTURES OF THE CHINESE HERBAL PLANT, TRIPTERYGIUM-WILFORDII - ISOLATION OF METABOLITES OF INTEREST IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS, IMMUNOSUPPRESSION, AND MALE CONTRACEPTIVE ACTIVITY

A detailed study of metabolites produced by the plant cell culture line of Triptervgium wilfordii, a Chinese herbal plant, is presented. Eighteen compounds within the diterpene and triterpene families have been isolated and fully characterized. Of these, five are novel compounds, and their structures were determined by a combination of spectral analysis, chemical correlation and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The interest of these compounds in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, skin allergies, and for male contraception is noted.