Sesquiterpene lactones from Lychnophora ericoides.

Two new sesquiterpene lactones, (4S,6R,7S,8S,10R,11S,16R)-1-oxo-3(10),8(16)-diepoxy-16-methylprop-1Z-enyl-16-methoxygermacra-2-en-6(12)-olide (1) and (4S,6R,7S,8S,10R,11S)-1-oxo-3,10-epoxy-8-angeloyloxygermacra-2-en-6(12)-olide (2), were isolated from Lychnophora ericoides. Their structures, including absolute configuration, were established by spectroscopic methods, including single-crystal X-ray analysis. Monitoring the furanoheliangolide metabolism of L. ericoides revealed an increase in biosynthesis during the plant flowering period.