Four new dammarane nortriterpenoids isolated from mastic ( <i>Pistacia lentiscus</i> L.) and their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities

Four new dammarane-type nortriterpenoids and four known dammarane triterpenoids were successfully isolated from mastic (<i>Pistacia lentiscus</i> L.). Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic data analyses (including IR, UV, HR-MS and NMR spectroscopy). Compounds <b>1</b>-<b>4</b> represent structurally novel dammarane-type triterpenes, characterised by a side chain with a carbon deficiency of either <b>4</b> or <b>6</b> atoms relative to conventional analogues. The anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of these compounds were thoroughly evaluated, revealing promising results for potential therapeutic applications. Compounds <b>5-8</b> showed certain inhibitory NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells with IC₅₀ values of 24.84-37.15 <i>μ</i>M (positive control dexamethasone, 11.27 ± 2.25 <i>μ</i>M). Compound <b>7</b> significantly inhibited the growth of SW480 cells, with an IC₅₀ value of 30.76 ± 2.75 <i>μ</i>M, comparable to that of the positive control cisplatin (25.91 ± 1.44 <i>μ</i>M). Additionally, the effects of all the compounds on HCT116 cells were not significant.