The invention discloses water-soluble triterpenephenol compounds having antitumor activity represented by formula (I), wherein the substituents R 1 ˆ¼R 4 and M are defined as in the description. The invention also discloses a method for preparing the compounds of formula (I) used quinone methide triterpene compounds as starting materials. The water-soluble triterpenephenol compounds disclosed in the invention can be made into various dosage forms including injection, tablet, capsule, granule and liniment, particularly suitable for making into injection.
