Three new macrocyclic diterpenoids, euphoscopoids A - C (1 - 3), including two new jatrophanes and a new lathyrane, were isolated from the whole plant of Euphorbia helioscopia. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Antifeedant and cytotoxic activities of these isolates were evaluated. All compounds showed significant antifeedant activity against a generalist plant-feeding insect, Helicoverpa armigera, with EC50 values ranging from 2.05 to 4.34 μg/cm2 . In addition, compound 2 showed moderate cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines NCI-H1975, HepG2, and MCF-2, while compounds 1 and 3 were not active at 80 μm. The results suggested not only the defensive function of macrocyclic diterpenoids in E. helioscopia against insect herbivores, but also their potential applications as new natural insect antifeedants.
Keywords: Euphorbia helioscopia; Antifeedant activities; Cytotoxic activities; Diterpenoids; Euphoscopoids A - C.
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