Two new macrocarpene-type sesquiterpenes from the styles and stigmas of Zea mays

Two new sesquiterpenes, named zeaols A (1) and B (2), along with three known related analogues, were isolated from the styles and stigmas of Zea mays. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses including UV, 1D- and 2D-NMR, HR-ESI-MS and ECD. Compounds 1 and 2 showed weak cytotoxic activities against the T-24 cancer cell line and compounds 1–5 improved glucose consumption in HepG2 cells.