Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Abies holophylla led to the isolation of two new and 40 known compounds. Their structures were established primarily by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. Compound 19 showed the most significant activity against the A549 lung cancer cell line with an IC50 value of 10.3 μg/mL.Graphical abstractPhytochemical investigations on Abies holophylla afforded 42 compounds, of which two were new compounds: (1S,4S,5S,7S)-5,8-dihydroxyl-1,7-dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one (1) and 5-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl acetate (2).Highlights► Isolation of two new and 40 known compounds. ► Chemical structures were elucidated primarily by analysis of NMR data. ► Two compounds showed potent effect against two tumor cells.

Three monoterpenoids and two triterpenoids were isolated from Abiesnephrolepis together with 53 known terpenoids. The structures of the compounds were established by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The absolute configuration of 3-hydroxycamphane-2-carboxylic acid was established as (1S,2R,3S,4R) by Cu-Kα X-ray crystallography. All 58 isolates were tested for cytotoxic activity against four tumor cells viz. A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma), Colo205 (colon adenocarcinoma), QGY-7703 (human hepatoma) and THP-1 (human monocytic leukemia). α-Cadinol exhibited the best effects on A549, Colo205 and QGY-7703 with IC50 values of 8.6, 8.1 and 4.6 μg/mL, respectively.Graphical abstractFive previously unreported and 53 known terpenoids were isolated from Abies nephrolepis. The absolute configuration of 1 was established by Cu-Kα X-ray crystallography as (1S,2R,3S,4R)-2,3-dimethyl-3-hydroxyl-2-norbornanecarboxylic acid.Highlights► Isolation of three monoterpenoids and two triterpenoids. ► Structure elucidation achieved mainly by analysis of NMR spectroscopic data. ► The absolute configuration of 1 was established by Cu-Kα X-ray crystallography. ► α-Cadinol exhibited the best inhibitory effects on three tumor cells.