Toxic principle isolated from the thistle Atractylis gummifera L., Compositae: M. Lefranc, Compt. Rend. 67, 954 (1868). Structure and stereochemistry of the aglycone, atractyligenin: F. Piozzi et al., Tetrahedron Suppl. 8 II, 515 (1966); total synthesis of (±)-form: A. K. Singh et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 109, 6187 (1987). Structure and stereochemistry of atractyloside: eidem, Gazz. Chim. Ital. 97, 935 (1967). Toxicity studies: G. Cascio et al., Boll. Soc. Ital. Biol. Sper. 44, 253 (1968). Review: Atractyloside: Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Toxicology, R. Santi, S. Luciani, Eds. (Piccin Medical Books, Padova, Italy, 1978) 136 pp.