Rearranged abietane diterpenoid hydroquinones from aerial parts of Ajuga decumbens Thunb

Four new rearranged abietane diterpenoid hydroquinones, ajudecumins A-D (1-4), together with two known rearranged abietane diterpenoids, three neo-clerodane diterpenoids, four megastigmane derivatives, two flavonoids as well as a bisabolene sesquiterpenoid were isolated from the aerial parts of Ajuga decumbens. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and the stereochemistry of 1 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Among the diterpenoids, compounds 1 and 3 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity on the proliferation of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. (C) 2012 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.