Zhao, ChunjiuRickards, RodneyTrowell, Stephen Charles2015-12-130040-4020http://hdl.handle.net/1885/86993The antibacterial activity of an extract of the Australian termite Nasutitermes triodiae (Isoptera: Termitidae) (Froggatt) is due to the presence of a group of trinervitanes, diterpenes unique to termite genera within the subfamily Nasutitermitinae. The major active components are novel hydroxylated 1(15),8(19)-trinervitadienes and the known 1(15),8(9)-trinervitadiene-2β, 3α-diol. This constitutes the first observation of hydroxylation of the trinervitane skeleton at the 5- and 18-positions, and of the substantial antimicrobial activity of trinervitane diterpenes. Graphical Abstract.Keywords: 1(15),8(19) trinervitadiene 3alpha,5alpha diol; 1(15),8(19) trinervitadiene 3alpha,5alpha,18 triol; 1(15),8(19) trinervitadiene 3alpha,5alpha,18 triol 3,5,18 triacetate; 1(15),8(19) trinervitadiene 3alpha,5alpha,18 triol 5 acetate; 1(15),8(9) trinervitadi Antibacterial; Diterpene; Nasutitermes triodiae; Termite; Trinervitadiene; Trinervitane200410.1016/j.tet.2004.08.0652016-02-24