Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026

08:56
Transient Expression in Nicotiana Benthamiana Leaves for Triterpene Production at a Preparative Scale
Published on: August 16, 2018
Sesquiterpenoids from Inula britannica
Jun-Li Yang1, Rui Wang, Lei-Lei Liu
1State Key Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, People's Republic of China.
Planta Medica
|September 24, 2010
Summary
Researchers explored Inula britannica flowers, isolating nineteen sesquiterpenoids. Six new compounds, britanlins E-J, were identified alongside known sesquiterpenoids, advancing natural product chemistry.
Area of Science:
- Natural Product Chemistry
- Phytochemistry
- Organic Chemistry
Background:
- Inula britannica is a plant species with potential medicinal properties.
- Sesquiterpenoids are a diverse class of natural products with various biological activities.
- Previous phytochemical studies on Inula species have identified numerous compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a detailed phytochemical investigation of the flowers of Inula britannica.
- To isolate and characterize novel and known sesquiterpenoids from the plant.
- To determine the structures and absolute configurations of the isolated compounds.
Main Methods:
- Extraction and isolation of compounds from Inula britannica flowers.
- Structure elucidation using comprehensive spectroscopic analyses (e.g., NMR, MS).
- Determination of absolute configurations via X-ray single crystal diffraction and chemical transformations.
Main Results:
- Nineteen sesquiterpenoids were isolated and identified (compounds 1-19).
- Six new sesquiterpenoids, designated britanlins E-J (compounds 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 14), were discovered.
- Known sesquiterpenoids (compounds 1, 4, 6, 7, 9-12, 15-19) were also identified.
- Absolute configurations of compounds 12, 15, 17, and 19 were confirmed through X-ray diffraction and chemical methods.
Conclusions:
- The phytochemical analysis of Inula britannica flowers yielded a rich array of sesquiterpenoids.
- The discovery of novel compounds like britanlins E-J expands the known chemical diversity of this plant genus.
- The structural and stereochemical characterization provides valuable data for future research on Inula-derived compounds.
Related Concept Videos
Introduction to Plant Diversity
From Water to Land
Defenses Against Pathogens and Herbivores
Plants present a rich source of nutrients for many organisms, making it a target for herbivores and infectious agents. Plants, though lacking a proper immune system, have developed an array of constitutive and inducible defenses to fend off these attacks.
Aromatic Compounds: Overview
In general, the term ‘aromatic’ indicates a pleasant smell or fragrance from fresh flowers, freshly prepared coffee, etc. In the early history of organic chemistry, many benzene derivatives were isolated from the pleasant odor oils of the plants. For example, vanillin was isolated from the oil of vanilla, methyl salicylate from the oil of wintergreen, and cinnamaldehyde from the oil of cinnamon. They all had a pleasant odor; hence the name aromatic was given.
In 1825, Faraday isolated benzene...
In 1825, Faraday isolated benzene...
Nomenclature of Aromatic Compounds with a Single Substituent
Benzene is the simplest aromatic hydrocarbon or arene. The IUPAC names for simple monosubstituted benzene derivatives are derived by adding the substituent's name as a prefix to the parent benzene. For example, halobenzene, where the halogen could be fluoro (F), chloro (Cl), bromo (Br), and iodo (I).
