Phytochemical investigation of Echinacea purpurea (Linn.) Moench and their chemotaxonomic significance

A phytochemical investigation of Echinacea purpurea (Linn.) Moench led to the isolation of sixteen sesquiterpenoids. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and comparison with literature data. All isolated sesquiterpenoids were reported from the aerial part of E. purpurea for the first time. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds was summarized.