[Study on the chemical constituents of Elephantopus mollis].

Objective: To investigate the chemical constituents of Elephantopus mollis.
Methods: Compounds were separated and purified by various column chromatographies including macroporous resin, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 and silica gel columns. The structures were identified by their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic data.
Results: Nine compounds were identified as 2beta-deethoxy-2-hydroxyphantomolin (1), 2beta-methoxy-2-deethoxyphantomolin (2), 2beta-methoxy-2-deethoxy-8-O-deacylphantomolin-8-O-tigli-nate (3), molephantinin (4), betulinic acid (5), magnolol (6), honokiol (7), dibutly phthalate (8) and tricin (9).
Conclusion: Compounds 5-9 are isolated from this plant for the first time.