A new oleanolic-type triterpene glycoside, (3β,21β)-21-[(β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-3-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (1), together with five analogues, oleanazuroside 1 (2), oleanazuroside 2 (3), 24-hydroxytormentic acid ester glucoside (4), 24-epi-pinfaensin (5), and oleanolic acid 3-O-α-l-arabinoside (6) were isolated from the n-butyl alcohol extract of Anchusa italica. Their structures were determined spectroscopically and compared with previously reported spectral data. Compounds 3-4 and 6 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines, but only compound 6 showed moderate cytotoxicity.

Activity-guided fractionation for complement inhibitors led to the isolation of 24 known compounds from Anchusa italica. Chemical types include eight megastigmane compounds, five triterpenoid compounds, five lignan compounds, three flavonoid compounds, two alkaloid compounds, and one phenthyl alcohol compound. Among which, a lignan (medioresinol), an alkaloid(5-hydroxypyrrolidin-2-one) and a flavonoid (5-hydroxyl-3', 4', 6, 7-tetramethoxy flavone) exhibited better anti-complementary effects with CH 50 values ranging from 0.07 to 0.82 mM, which are plausible candidates for developing potent anti-complementary agents.

C22H30N8O4S2Ni, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 10.635(2) Å, b = 10.308(2) Å, c = 12.444(3) Å, β = 101.205(4)°, V = 1338.2(5) Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0417, wRref(F2) = 0.0937, T = 296(2) K.