Sesquiterpene lactones from Centaurea alba and C. conifera

Abstract The aerial parts of Centaurea alba yielded five know germacranolides: salonitenolide, 11β, 13-dihydrosalonitenolide, salonitenolide 8- O -(4′-acetoxy-5′-hydroxy)-angelate, cnicin 4′-O-acetate and cnicin. The aerial parts of C. conifera yielded loliolide, 1β,6α-dihydroxy-4(15)-eudesmene, chlorojanerin, chlorohyssopifolin A (centaurepensin) and its C-17 epimer. The latter compound is described for the first time.