Two new sesquiterpene lactone glycosides, namely melitensin 15-O-β-D-glucoside (1) and 11β,13-dihydrosalonitenolide 15-O-β-D-glucoside (2), along with eight known compounds (3-10) were isolated from the aerial part of Cnicus benedictus L. Their structures were elucidated from analyses of extensive spectroscopic data. Compounds 1-6 all possessed an α-methyl-γ-lactone moiety. Moreover, compound 5 exhibited moderate activity against the growth of Aspergillus fumigatus, with IC50 values of 17.67 μg mL-1.
Keywords: Asteraceae; Cnicus benedictus; antimicrobial; sesquiterpene lactone glycosides.