Lupeol and betulinic acid inhibit the proliferation of Plasmodium falciparum parasites by inhibition of the invasion of merozoites into erythrocytes. This conclusion is based on experiments employing parasite cultures synchronized by magnetic cell sorting (MACS). Identical inhibitory effects were observed upon incubation of synchronous parasite cultures in the presence of the triterpenoids, and when the parasite cultures were grown in a triterpenoid-free medium with erythrocytes preloaded with the triterpenoids.