Abstract Three new triterpenes have been isolated from the stembark of Symplocos racemosa together with the two known triterpenoids betulin and oleanolic acid. Their structures were characterized as 28-hydroxy-20α-urs-12,18(19)-dien-3β-yl acetate, 3-oxo-urs-20α-12,18(19)-dien-28-oic acid and 24-hydroxyolean-12-en-3-one by spectral and chemical means.