Lignan and terpene constituents from the aerial parts of Saussurea pulchella.

Chromatographic separation of the MeOH extract from the aerial parts of Saussurea pulchella led to the isolation of seven terpenes (1-4, 11-13), and eight phenolics (5-10, 14-15). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic means to be (3S)-3-O-(3',4'-diangeloyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-3,7-trimethylocta-1,6-diene (1), 7delta-methoxy- 4(14)- oppositen-1beta-ol (2) 4(15)- eudesmene-1beta, 6alpha-diol (3), 3alpha-hydroxy-5, 6-epoxy-7-megastigmen-9-one (4), (+)-syringaresinol (5), (7S, 8R, 8'R)-5,5'-dimethoxylariciresinol (6), 8alpha-hydroxypinoresinol (7), (7'R, 8'R)-2,2'- dimethoxy-4- (3-hydroxyl-propenyl)-4'-(1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl)-biphenyl ether (8), 4-allyl-2,6- dimethoxyphenyl glucoside (9), 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenyl beta-D-glucoside (10), (-)-oplopan-4-one- 10alpha-O-beta-D-glucoside (11), linalyl-O-beta-D-glucoside (12), amarantholidoside IV (13), (+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol 1-O-beta-D-glucoside (14), and syringin (15). Compounds 1-3 and 8-13 were first isolated from the genus Saussurea. The isolated compounds were examined for cytotoxic activity against four human cancer cell lines in vitro using the sulforhodamin B bio assay method.