Cytotoxic sesquiterpenes from Nardostachys chinensis.

Five cytostatic sesquiterpenes, desoxo-narchinol-A (1), nardosinone (2), debilon (3), nardosinonediol (4) and kanshone A (5), were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Nardostachys chinensis (Valerianaceae). The steric structure of 1 was determined by nuclear Overhauser effects (NOEs) and the exciton chirality method. All five showed cytotoxic activity against P-388 cells and the structure-activity relationship of 1 was also discussed.