Abstract
Atractylon, the sesquiterpenoid oxide isolated from the rhizomes of Atractylodes japonica and its related plants (Compositae), has been proven to have constitution I on the basis of spectral properties and its conversion into 8, 12-oxido-eudesmane. Autoxidation of atractylon has given two crystalline compounds, the autoxidation product A and B, which have been established as shown in formulae (IV and V), respectively, from the degradative and spectral evidence.
