Three new isopimarane diterpenoids, trogopteroids A-C (1-3), four new aromatic diterpenoids, trogopteroids D-G (4-7), and 12 known diterpenoids were isolated from the feces of Trogopterus xanthipes. Their structures were identified using spectroscopic methods. The relative configuration of 1 was confirmed by quantum calculations. Compound 1 represents the first example of a norisopimarane diterpenoid with an 8alpha,15alpha-olide ring. With the exception of compound 14, all diterpenoids were evaluated for cytotoxicity against seven human tumor cell lines.

A portion of the material was dissolved in acetone and treated with Jones reagent18 until an orange color persisted for 2 min. Tic of this material in systems A, B, and C showed it to be identical with 3 in R¡ and fluorescence color, and the ultraviolet absorption characteristics at acid, neutral, and alkaline pH values were likewise indistinguishable from those of 3.