Two new pseudoguaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactones, named deacetyltetraneurin A (3) and hysterone E (4), were isolated from flowers of the plant Parthenium hysterophorus L., along with the seven known compounds parthenin (1), coronopilin, tetraneurin A, 8-b-hydroxycoronopilin, scopoletin, hysterone D, and conchasin A (2). The structures of all the compounds were deduced by means of elemental analysis and extensive spectroscopic (1D and 2D NMR) studies, and confirmed for 3 and 4 by X-ray crystallographic analysis.
Results andDiscussion. -Extraction of the flowers of P. hysterophorus with CH 2 Cl 2 /MeOH 1 : 1 at room temperature yielded a mixture that was subjected to column chromatography (silica gel, hexane/AcOEt/acetone (gradient)). Thus the known compounds parthenin (1) [3], coronopilin [5], tetraneurin A [5], 8-b-hydroxycoronopilin [7], scopoletin [16], hysterone D [15], and conchasin A (2) [17], and the new compounds deacetyltetraneurin A (3) and hysterone E (4) were isolated (Fig. 1). 1 ) Part 56 in the series 'Studies on Phytochemicals', IICT Communication No. 051106.