Athenaea (Solanaceae) is an endemic genus belonging to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. Recently, botanical investigations suggested the re‐evaluation of the generic status of the genus Athenaea as a synonym of Aureliana. In this study, the first investigation of the Athenaea genus performed on Athenaea martiana by means of HPLC‐HR‐MS‐SPE‐NMR combined with high‐resolution radical scavenging profile led to identification of several phenolic acids as radical scavengers: protocatechuic acid (1), 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid (2), caffeic acid (3), vanillic acid (4), and ferulic acid (6). Additional analysis revealed a new steroidal lactone, named athenolide A (9). Their structures were elucidated by extensive use of NMR spectroscopy as well as HR‐MS. Chemotaxonomic considerations based on these results supported the chemical relationships between the Athenaea and Aureliana genera, in agreement with the recent botanical findings.