Sesquiterpenes from the leaves of Laurus nobilis L

Ten sesquiterpene lactones and methyl esters along with twelve known compounds of the same structural class were isolated from Laurus nobilis L. [Display omitted] ► Twenty-two sesquiterpenes were isolated from the leaves of Laurus nobilis L. ► Ten compounds were determined to be eudesmane lactones and methyl esters. ► Five compounds were isolated from bay leaf for the first time. ► Most of the compounds exhibited moderate to significant cytotoxicity against the K562 cell line. ► One compound was as cytotoxic as doxorubicin and seven compounds were moderately cytotoxic, two compounds were inactive. Ten sesquiterpenes, together with 12 known compounds were isolated from leaves of Laurus nobilis L. Based on spectroscopic analyses, the 10 compounds were determined to be eudesmane lactones and their corresponding methyl esters. Most of these compounds exhibited moderate-to-significant cytotoxicity towards K562 leukemia cells. One compound had a higher cytotoxicity than doxorubicin, while other compounds had moderate to no activity.