A chemical study of Bethencourtia herrnosae, aerial parts and in vitro root cultures, transformed by Agrobacterium rhizogenes, afforded the hitherto unreported sesquiterpenes ceratopicanol angelate (1), 8 beta-hydroxy-african-4(5)-en-3-one tiglate (4), 8 beta-hydroxy-african-4(5)-en-3-one 3'-angeloxy-2'-methyl-butanoate (5), 1 alpha,8 beta-dihydroxy-african-4(5)-en-3-one 8 beta-angelate (7) and 6 alpha,8 beta-dihydroxy-african-4(5)-en-3-one 8 beta-angelate (8). In addition, 8 beta-hydroxy-african-4(5)-en-3-one (6) was isolated for the first time from a natural source, along with the rare sesquiterpenoid senecrassidiol (10) and two jacaranone derivatives 14 and 16. Known pyrrolizidine alkaloids, together with previously unreported hermosine (23), have also been isolated from this plant. The insect antifeedant activities of the extracts and compounds were studied together with their cytotoxic effects against insect (Sf9) and mammalian (CHO) cell lines. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.