<div><p>Liquid–liquid partitioning of <i>Ricinus communis</i> root methanol extract resulted in enrichment of compounds. Purification of the <i>n</i>-hexane fraction led to the isolation and characterisation of two triterpenes: one known compound lupeol (<b>1</b>) and a new diketone pentacyclic triterpene named as erandone (urs-6-ene-3,16-dione) (<b>2</b>), from the plant. Their structures were determined by various spectroscopic techniques. Crude methanolic, enriched <i>n</i>-hexane fraction and isolates at doses 100 mg/kg p.o. exhibited significant (<i>P</i> < 0.001) anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema model.</p></div
