Four new hypocretenolides (guaian-12,5-olides) from Leontodon rosani (Asteraceae, Cichorieae)

Abstract Subaerial parts of Leontodon rosani (Ten.) DC. collected in the South Italian Basilicata region yielded four new hypocretenolides, 11β,13-dihydro-15-hydroxyhypocretenolide ( 2 ), 15-hydroxyhypocretenolide ( 3 ), 11β,13-dihydro-15-hydroxyhypocretenolide-β-glucopyranoside ( 4 ), and 15-hydroxyhypocretenolide-β-glucopyranoside ( 5 ). Structure elucidations were based on MS experiments and extensive one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments. None of the isolated compounds showed any activity in an in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay. The chemosystematic impact of the occurrence of hypocretenolides in L. rosani is discussed with regards to the supposed allotetraploid origin of the title species. Moreover, HPLC retention times and online mass signals for all currently known hypocretenolide derivatives are described to ease future studies screening for this rare group of natural products.