Dihydroagarofuran derivatives from the dried roots of Tripterygium wilfordii.

Five new sesquiterpene derivatives, including dihydroagarofuran pyridine macrolides 1-4 and dihydroagarofuran ester 18, and 13 known dihydroagarofuran derivatives were isolated from the aqueous EtOH extract of the dried roots of Tripterygium wilfordii. An in vitro antiherpetic activity assay indicated that compounds 11 and 17 displayed weak and moderate inhibition against herpes simplex virus type II, respectively.