Anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene dimers and diterpenes from the aerial part of Inula japonica .

Phytochemical investigation on the 95% alcohol extract of the aerial part of Inula japonica led to the isolation of three new compounds, inulanolides F-G ( 1-2 ) and 17 α -carboxaldehyde-ent-kaur-18-oic acid ( 3 ), together with four known compounds ( 4-7 ). The structures of new compounds were elucidated by using spectroscopic data. Most of the isolated compounds showed significant anti-inflammatory activities.