Sesquiterpene lactones from the pericarps of Illicium majus; 2-oxy derivatives of neomajucin and 3,4-dehydroxyneomajucin.

Abstract

Six more anisatin-like sesquiterpene lactones were isolated from the pericarps of Illicium majus. The structures of these sompounds (4-9) were characterized as majucins having a 2-oxy group. It is noteworthy that one of the six compounds has a (10S*)-hydroxyl group, whereas usual anisatin- and majucin-type compounds have a (10R*)-hydroxyl group. All these structures were determined on the basis of spectral data, compard with those of majucin and neomajucin. These compounds did not exhibit convulsive toxicity to mice, although the (10S*)-hydroxy compound was not examined.