Hirsutinolides and other sesquiterpene lactones from Vernonia species

The investigation of Vernonia compactiflora afforded in addition to known compounds a hirsutinolide and a glaucolide; the latter is most probably the direct precursor of the former. The aerial parts of V. monocephala contain the same hirsutinolide as well as the corresponding acetate, while those of V. chalybaea afforded glaucolide B. A reinvestigation of the aerial parts of V. cotoneaster gave in addition to the allenic lactone isolated before two further known ones as well as a new glaucolide. The structures of the lactones were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and some chemical transformations. The erroneously assigned stereochemistry at C-10 in the hirsutinolides has been revised. The biogenetic relationship of the Vernonia lactones is discussed briefly.     

New sesquiterpene lactones and other constituents from Fitchia speciosa

The investigation of Fitchia speciosa afforded, in addition to known compounds, three new sesquiterpene lactones, iso-β-costal, two p-hydroxyacetophenone derivatives and an isoeugenol derivative. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The chemotaxonomic situation in this complicated genus is discussed.     

New germacranolides and other sesquiterpene lactones from Dicoma species

Two subspecies of Dicoma anomala afforded, in addition to known compounds, an eudesmanolide, a guaianolide and four germacranolides, the latter being closely related 8, 12-lactones. D. schinzii gave three new germacranolides and D. zeyheri a pair of isomeric acetylenic compounds. The structures were elucidated by highfield ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The chemotaxonomic situation of this genus is discussed briefly.     

Three bourbonenolides and other sesquiterpene lactones from two vernonia species

A re-investigation of V. arkansana afforded several new sesquiterpene lactones, three bourbonenolides, obviously closely related to those isolated from this plant previously, a glaucolide and a methoxy derivative most probably formed by fragmentation of the corresponding bourbonenolide. From V. profuga in addition to known lactones a new guaianolide was isolated. The biogenetic relationships of the Vernonia sesquiterpene lactones are discussed briefly.     

Pseudoguaianolides and other sesquiterpene lactones from Gaillardia species

The aerial parts of two Gaillardia species afforded in addition to known sesquiterpene lactones 23 new pseudoguaianolides, two dugaldiolide derivatives and two seco-neopulchellin derivatives. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Biogenetic relationships are discussed briefly.     

A dimeric germacranolide and other sesquiterpene lactones from Mikania species

The investigation of two Mikania species, both previously placed in the genus Kanimia, afforded in addition to known compounds several new germ     

New types of sesquiterpene lactones and other constituents from Trichogonia species

The investigation of five Trichogonia species afforded seven new furanoheliangolides, three dilactones of a new type, four pairs of epimeric rearra     

Poskeanolide,a seco-germacranolide and other sesquiterpene lactones from Vernonia species

The aerial parts of Vernonia cinerea, collected in Costa Rica, gave four new hirsutinolides while a sample from Malawi afforded glaucolide E and two related lactones. From V. poskeana a seco-germacranolide biogenetically closely related to a new glaucolide was isolated. The investigation of two Critoniopsis species gave in addition to known lactones a further glaucolide and a vernopatensolide. A related species, V. flexipappa, only gave glaucolide B. The structures were elucidated by highfield NMR spectroscopy.     

Modified eudesmanolides and other sesquiterpene lactones from Wunderlichia mirabilis and Actinoseris polymorpha

Re-investigation of Wunderlichia mirabilis afforded three new modified eudesmanolides of the same type isolated previously from an Onoseris species, and minute amounts of a germacranolide for which a structure only could be proposed. Actinoseris polymorpha also contained a new germacranolide, the angetate of desacetyllaurenobiolide. Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and by some chemical transformations. The significance of these findings is discussed briefly.     

Heliangolides and other constituents from Bejaranoa semistriata

The investigation of Bejaranoa semistriata, a new genus in the tribe Eupatorieae, afforded in addition to known compounds a new furanoheliangolide, two epimeric 1-keto-heliangolides, two germacranolides, two nerolidol derivatives and a geranylnerol derivative. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and a few chemical transformations.     

New sesquiterpene lactones,geranyllinalol derivatives and other constituents from Geigeria species

The investigation of three Geigeria species and five subspecies afforded, in addition to known compounds, the following 32 new compounds: two geigeranolides with a new carbon skeleton, two xanthanolides, five guaianolides, three pseudoguaianolides, a sesquiterpene related to ivaxillarin, a nerolidol derivative, 15 geranyllinalol derivatives, two thiophene acetylenes and a dimeric coniferyl isobutyrate. The structures and the stereochemistry of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and a few chemical transformation. Chemotaxonomic aspect and relationship of the comnounds are discussed.     

Two guaiane-type sesquiterpene lactones and their related sesquiterpene lactones from Porella japonica

Two new guaiane-type sesquiterpene dilactones, porelladiolide and 3α,4α-epoxyporelladiolide and a new germacranolide, 3β-hydroxycostunolide, together with the previously known germacranolides, guaianolides, pinguisane-type sesquiterpenes, and a sacculatane-type diterpene dialdehyde have been isolated from the liverwort, Porella japonica and their structures have been established by the spectral evidence and some chemical transformations. Porelladiolide, 3α,4α-epoxyporelladiolide and the sesquiterpene with α-methylene γ-lactone group showed inhibitory activity toward the germination and growth of roots of rice in the husk.     

Two sesquiterpene lactones from Abutilon indicum

Abutilon indicum afforded two sesquiterpene lactones identified as alantolactone and isoalantolactone. This is the first report of the occurrence of these compounds in the genus Abutilon and in the family Malvaceae.     

New sesquiterpene lactones from Liriodendron tulipifera

Four new sesquiterpene lactones were obtained from L. tulipifera; two germacranolides, lipiferolide (4) and epitulipinolide diepoxide (5) from the leaves, an elemanolide, epitulipdienolide (7), and an eudesmanolide, γ-liriodenolide (6) from the root bark. Structural determination was by physical and chemical methods and by direct correlation to the known epitulipinolide (3). Lipiferolide and epitulipinolide diepoxide possess cytotoxic activity against KB cells.     

Further sesquiterpene lactones from Helianthus maximiliani

By using HPLC, a new melampolide, a known heliangolide and three known germacrolides were isolated as minor constituents from a north central Texas population of Helianthus maximiliani. In an earlier report, we identified the germacrolide desacetyleupaserrin as the principal sesquiterpene lactone from this population.     

Further sesquiterpene lactones from Anthemis carpatica

A new germacranolide, (E)-1alpha, 10beta-epoxy-3beta-acetoxy-6alpha-hydroxygermacra-4,11 (13)-dien-12,8alpha-olide, together with nine new highly oxygenated guaiadien-12,6alpha-olides of anthemolide, and cumambrin type were identified in the repeated examination of the aerial parts of the flowering Anthemis carpatica. In addition, six known guaianolides belonging to the same groups, also isolated previously from A. carpatica, along with two guaianolides, 2beta-hydroxyepiligustrin and cumambrin B, not found before in this species, were isolated this time.     

New sesquiterpene lactones from Inula species

An investigation of Inula helenium, I. royleana, I. salicina and I. bifrons afforded in addition to known sesquiterpene lactones 20 new lactones, the eudesmanolides 3, 6 and 8–12, the germacranolides 14–18 and 20–22, the guaianolides 23 and 25, the pseudoguaianolide 26, the xanthanolides 28 and 32 and the cyclopropane analogue 30. Structures and configurations of these new compounds were established by extensive PMR studies and by some chemical transformations. Some of the investigated species contain besides the widely distributed pentaynene 33 several known thymol derivatives together with a new one (40).     

Two sesquiterpene lactones from artemisia species

Two new sesquiterpene lactones, himeyoshin and montanone, were isolated from Artemisia feddei and A. montana, respectively and identified by chemical and spectral data as1α,2α-epoxy-3-oxo-5,6-dihydroalantolactone and 1,10-dihydro-11,13-dehydromatricarin.     

Ineupatorolide-like sesquiterpene lactones from Dittrichia viscosa

Dittrichia viscosa afforded, in addition to known compounds, minute amounts of nine sesquiterpene lactones, all closely related to ineupatorolide B     

Cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactones from Artemisia anomala

Two new sesquiterpene lactones, 8α-acetoxy-1,10α-epoxy-2-oxo-guaia-3,11(13)-dien-12,6α-olide (1) and 13-acetoxy-1-oxo-4α-hydroxy-eudesman-2(11)-dien-12,6α-olide (2), along with six known analogs (3-8), were isolated from the whole plant of Artemisia anomala S. Moore. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 6 and 7 exhibited in vitro moderate cytotoxicity against A549 cells with IC₅₀ values of 0.6 and 0.9 μM, and HepG2 cells with IC₅₀ values of 5.4 and 3.0 μM, respectively.