Cytotoxic triterpenoids from Erica andevalensis.

The cytotoxic activity of two pentacyclic triterpenoids (ursolic acid and alpha-amyrine) isolated from the methanolic extract of the aerial parts from Erica andevalensis, whose structures have been established on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence, has been assessed against three human cancer cell lines, TK-10 (renal adenocarcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma) and UACC-62 (melanoma), recommended by NCI (National Cancer Institute) and we also evaluated the antimitotic effect in root meristematic cells of Allium cepa. Ursolic acid was found to possess the highest cytotoxic activity.