A novel sesquiterpene lactone from Centaurea pullata: structure elucidation, antimicrobial activity, and prediction of pharmacokinetic properties.

A novel elemanolide with an alpha-methyl-gamma-lactone moiety, 8alpha-O-(4-hydroxy-2-methylenebutanoyloxy)melitensine, in addition to four known sesquiterpene lactones also bearing the same lactone ring, melitensin, 11beta,13 dihydrosalonitenolide, 8alpha-hydroxy-11beta,13-dihydro-4-epi-sonchucarpolide, and 8alpha-hydroxy-11beta,13-dihydro-onopordaldehyde have been isolated from the aerial parts of Centaurea pullata. The in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities of the isolated sesquiterpene lactones were tested against six bacteria and eight fungal species, using a microdilution method. All compounds tested showed greater antibacterial and antifungal activities than the positive controls used. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic profile of these compounds was investigated using computational methods.