Two novel polyoxygenated cyclohexenes, 6-methoxyzeylenol (3) and 2-acetoxyz
eylenone (4), together with two known compounds, zeylenol (1) and zeylenone
(2), were isolated from the heartwood of the Chinese tree, Uvaria purpurea
, Zeylenol (1) and zeylenone (2) both showed inhibitory activity toward the
root growth of Lactuca sativa. Their structures were established by spectr
oscopic and chemical methods.