Two new lignans, (+)-4-(3-methylbutanoyl)-2,6-di(3,4-dimethoxy)phenyl-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane and (+)-4-hydroxy-2,6di(3,4-dimethoxy)phenyl-3,7-dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane, together with the known lupeol and sitosteryl beta-D-glucopyranoside, have been isolated from the roots of Echinops giganteus var. lelyi C. D. Adams (Compositae). The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral studies and comparison with published data. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.