Two new eudesmanolides from Inula racemosa.

Two new eudesmane-type sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the roots of Inula racemosa and their structures were elucidated as 3β-hydroxy-11α,13-dihydroalantolactone (1) and 11α-hydroxy-eudesm-5-en-8β,12-olide (2). Their cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines had been tested and compound 2 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against BEL-7402 and HCT-8 cell lines. The anti-inflammatory activities were also tested, but neither of them showed any activities.