A comparative phytochemical study between pericarps of Iryanthera lancifolia and Virola surinamensis showed that the first one contains a new pair of epimeric 2-alkenyl-gamma-lactones, besides an aryltetralinic lignan and one tocotrienol, while the second species contains the lignans, galgravin and veraguensin, seven juruenolides: juruenolides C, D, F, G and epi-juruenolides D, F, G, together with three pairs of epimeric aliphatic 2-alkenyl-gamma-lactones. Juruenolide F, epi-juruenolides D, F, G and the 2-alkenyl-gamma-lactones are new natural compounds. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.