LIGNANS AND SESQUITERPENE LACTONES FROM ARTEMISIA-SIEVERSIANA AND INULA-RACEMOSA

The aerial parts of Artemisia sieversiana afforded, in addition to bet a-sitosterol, stigmasterol and daucosterol, two novel lignans as well as one known and three new guaianolides. The roots of Inula racemosa g ave beta-sitosterol, daucosterol and isoalantolactone. The structures were determined by a combination of spectral methods (IR, EIMS, H-1 an d C-13 NMR, DEFT, COSY, NOESY and HETCOR). All isolates were subjected to antifungal tests. Isoalantolactone, a major sesquiterpene lactone of I. racemosa, was found to be active against the human pathogenic fu ngi, Aspergillus flavus, A. niger, Geotrichum candidum, Candida tropic alis and C. albicans at concentrations of 50, 50, 25, 25 and 25 mu g/m l, respectively. The taxonomic significance of the characterized const ituents is discussed briefly. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.