Chemical modifications of natural triterpenes-glycyrrhetinic and boswellic acids: evaluation of their biological activity 

 -  Tetrahedron, 64(51), p.11541-11548, 2008 .
<br/><br/> Synthetic analogues of naturally occurring triterpenoids; glycyrrhetinic acid, arjunolic acid, and boswellic acids, by modification of A-ring with a cyano- and enone-functionality, have been reported. A novel method of synthesis of a-cyanoenones from isoxazoles is reported. Bioassays using primary mouse macrophages and tumor cell lines indicate potent anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities associated with cyano-enones of boswellic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid