The aerial parts of Onopordon myriacanthum afforded, in addition to se
veral known flavonoids and sesquiterpene lactones a new elemanolide, a
new germacranolide, two new eudesmanolides and a new elemane derivati
ve. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscop
ic methods, particularly highfield NMR spectroscopy as 8 alpha-sarraci
noyl dehydromelitensin and its methylester derivative, 8 alpha(4'-hydr
oxysenecioyl)-salonitenolide and 8 alpha-sarracinoyl sonchucarpolide a
nd its 4-epi-derivative.