Minor Bioactive Dihydrophenanthrenes from Juncus effusus

Seven new minor dihydrophenanthrenes have been isolated from Juncus effusus L. Structures have been defined by spectroscopic means. An antialgal assay, using the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum, showed good activity for six of them. The presence of both polar and nonpolar substituents in these molecules seems to be important for the bioactivity.