Anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities of two new triterpenoids from Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn.

Two new triterpenoids characterised as 30-normethyl fernen-22-one (capillirone, 1) and hopan-3β-ol (capillirol B, 2), along with two known triterpenoids, 4-α-hydroxyfilican-3-one and 3-β,4-α-dihydroxyfilicane, have been isolated from the ethanolic extract of the fronds of Adiantum capillus-veneris Linn. (Adiantaceae). Compounds 1 and 3 showed significant anti-inflammatory activity with 33.07% (p < 0.01) and 42.30% (p < 0.001) inhibition as compared to indomethacin that exhibited 60.00% (p < 0.001) inhibition after 3 h in the carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema method. Compound 3 showed potent anti-nociceptive activity with 42.37% inhibition as compared to indomethacin that showed 45.34% inhibition in the writhing test.