Chemical constituents from Maytenus guianensis Klotzsch ex Reissek (Celastraceae) Amazon rainforest

• From Maytenus guianensis were isolated triterpenes (friedelanes, friedo-nor-oleanane, oleanane and ursane) and steroid.
• Friedo-nor-oleanane might be employed as a characteristic constituent of both Hippocrateaceae and Celastraceae families.
• Friedo-nor-oleanane derivatives are a systematically important characteristic of families Hippocrateaceae and Celastraceae.

The present phytochemical investigation on Maytenus guianensis led to the isolations of nine triterpenes, including friedelanes, friedo-nor-oleanane, oleanane and ursane and one steroid. All of them were isolated from this plant for the first time. The presences of friedo-nor-oleanane triterpenoids might be employed as the common characteristic constituents of both Hippocrateaceae and Celastraceae family.