The sesquiterpene lactones from two populations of Artemisia herba alba

Abstract The sesquiterpene lactones of two additional Israeli Artemisia herba alba populations, one from Elat the other from Mizpe Ramon, were investigated. While the Elat population was devoid of any sesquiterpene lactones, the Mizpe Ramon variety contained herbolides A, B and C desacetylherbolide A. Furthermore, it was found to contain the hitherto unknown herbolide D. On the basis of these and previous results the presence of at least five different chemotypes in the Middle Eastern populations of A. herba alba is established.