Phytoecdysteroids from the juice of Serratula coronata L. (Asteraceae).

Seven phytoecdysteroids have been isolated from Serratula coronata L. One of them is a new phytoecdysteroid, 3-epi-20-hydroxyecdysone. Two further ecdysteroids, 20-hydroxyecdysone 22-acetate and taxisterone, are isolated from this species for the first time in addition to the typical S. coronata ecdysteroids, 20-hydroxyecdysone, ecdysone, ajugasterone C and polypodine B. The juice squeezed from aerial parts of fresh plants of S. coronata was extracted with ethyl acetate. The ecdysteroids were isolated by a combination of chromatographic techniques (mainly HPLC) and identified by 1D and 2D (1)H and (13)C NMR experiments and mass-spectrometry. The biological activities of 3-epi-20-hydroxyecdysone (EC(50)=1.6 x 10(-7) M), taxisterone (EC(50)=9.5 x 10(-8) M) and ajugasterone C (EC(50)=6.2 x 10(-8) M) have been determined in the Drosophila melanogaster B(II) bioassay for ecdysteroid agonist activity.