Totaianes, a new type of triterpenes (Comments on the article “Antiproliferative activity and energy calculations of a new triterpene isolated from the palm tree Acrocomia totai”)

The new compound totaiol (isolated from Acrocomiatotai) was misnamed as a hopane-type triterpene. Considering its biosynthesis, it could be considered as an intermediate of other triterpenes isolated from the same source (following a sterol folding of 2,3-squalene oxide). In contrast, hopane-type triterpenes follow a different biosynthetic route (non-sterol folding of 2,3-squalene oxide). The stereochemical and substitutional array trans, syn, trans, anti, trans, anti, trans for the A-E rings of the triterpene totaiol (1) is not known, and therefore, its biosynthetic significance as an important intermediate should be emphasized. This new group of triterpenic skeletons could be named totaianes.