Sesquiterpene lactones from Centaurea thessala and Centaruea attica.: Antifungal activity

The aerial parts of Centaurea thessala ssp. drakiensis and C. attica ssp. attica afforded, in addition to several known sesquiterpene lactones, two new eudesmanolides, 4-epi-sonchucarpolide and its 8-(3-hydroxy-4-acetoxy-2-methylene-butanoyloxy) derivative and one new eudesmane derivative, named atticin. The in vitro antifungal activity of most compounds was tested against nine fungal species, using the micro-dilution method. All the compounds tested showed great antifungal activity. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.