Six new phthalides, (S)-3-ethyl-7-hydroxy-6-methoxyphthalide (1), (S)-3-ethyl-7-hydroxy-5,6-dimethoxyphthalide (2), (S)-3-ethyl-5,6,7-trimethoxyphthalide (3), (R)-3-ethyl-7-hydroxy-6-methoxyphthalide (4), (Z)-3-ethylidene-7-hydroxy-6-methoxyphthalide (5), and (Z)-3-ethylidene-6,7-dimethoxyphthalide (6), have been isolated from the root of Pittosporum illicioides var. illicioides, together with seven known compounds. The structures of these new compounds were determined through spectroscopic and MS analyses. Compounds 1-4 exhibited inhibition (IC50

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Two new benzoic acid derivatives, (E)-3-acetyl-6-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyloxy)-2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (1) and (E)-3-acetyl-4-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyloxy)-2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid (2), and three new acetophenones, (E)-1-(5-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyloxy)-7-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2 H-chromen-8-yl)ethanone (3), (E)-1-(5-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyloxy)-7-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)-2 H-chromen-8-yl)ethanone (4), and (R,E)-1-(5-(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dienyloxy)-3,7-dihydroxy-2,2-dimethylchroman-8-yl)ethanone (5), have been isolated from the fruits of Melicope semecarpifolia, together with eight known compounds. The structures were determined through in-depth NMR and mass spectrometric analyses. Among the isolated compounds, 2-(1'-geranyloxy)-4,6,beta-trihydroxyacetophenone (8), 4-(1'-geranyloxy)-2,6,beta-trihydroxyacetophenone (9), 5-hydroxy-3,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone (10), 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,7,3'-trimethoxyflavone (11), and 5,4'-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone (12) exhibited potent inhibition (IC50<4 microg/mL) on superoxide anion generation and elastase release by human neutrophils in response to fMet-Leu-Phe/cytochalasin B.

A new ferulic acid ester derivative, tetracosane-1,24-diyl di[(Z)-ferulate] (1), and a new ellagic acid derivative, 3,4 : 3',4'-bis(O,O-methylene)ellagic acid (2), have been isolated from leaves and twigs of Pachycentria formosana, together with eight known compounds. Their structures were determined by in-depth spectroscopic and mass-spectrometric analyses. Among the isolated compounds, oleanolic acid (6), ursolic acid acetate (7), and 3-epibetulinic acid (9) exhibited potent inhibition (IC(50) values ≤ 21.8 μM) of O₂(-) generation by human neutrophils in response to N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine/cytochalasin B (fMLP/CB). In addition, oleanolic acid (6), 3-O-[(E)-feruloyl]ursolic acid (8), 3-epibetulinic acid (9), and lawsonic acid (10) also inhibited fMLP/CB-induced elastase release with IC(50) values ≤ 18.6 μM.