Twenty-two new lignans and neolignans (1-22), together with 14 known analogues, have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of the stem (with skin removed) of Sinocalamus affinis. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. On the basis of systematic NMR and circular dichroism (CD) data analysis, the validity of J7,8 and ΔδC8-C7 values to distinguish threo and erythro aryl glycerol units in different neolignans and the CD data [particularly the Rh2(OCOCF3)4-induced CD data (the E band)] to determine the absolute configurations at C-8 (C-7) of the aryl glycerol units are discussed. At a concentration of 10 μM, compounds 20 and 22 inhibited NO production in mouse peritoneal macrophages 84.2±5.9% and 71.7±1.0%, respectively. Compounds 19, 20, and 22 showed activity against serum deprivation induced PC12 cell damage by increasing the cell viability from 80.7±2.8% to 91.6±6.4%, 107.2±8.0%, and 97.6±8.5%, respectively.

Seven new neolignan glycosides ( 1- 7), two arylglycerol glycosides ( 8, 9), and 18 known glycosides have been isolated from an ethanolic extract of the root of Iodes cirrhosa. Their structures including absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Based on analysis of the NMR data of threo and erythro 8-4'-oxyneolignans and arylglycerols in different solvents, the validity of J 7,8 and Deltadelta C8-C7 values to distinguish threo and erythro derivatives was discussed. In the in vitro assays, compound 4 and liriodendrin ( 17) both showed activity against glutamate-induced PC12 cell damage at 10 (-5) M.

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Three unique pyrano[4,3-c][2]benzopyran-1,6-dione derivatives and a new furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-one, named phelligridins C-F (2-5), together with hispolon (8), (E)-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one (9), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, protocatechualdehyde, syringic acid, protocatechuic acid, caffeic acid, isoergosterone, and octadecyl ferulate were isolated and identified from the ethanolic extract of Phellinus igniarius. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods including IR, MS, and 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The structures of the new compounds were characterized as 3-(4-hydroxystyryl)-8,9-dihydroxypyrano[4,3-c]isochromene-4-one (2), 3-(3,4-hydroxystyryl)-8,9-dihydroxypyrano[4,3-c]isochromene-4-one (3), 8,9-dihydroxy-3-[5',6'-dihydroxy-5' '-methyl-3' '-oxo-spiro[fural-2' '(3' 'H),1'-indene]-2'-yl]-1H,6H-pyrano[4,3-c][2]benzopyran-1,6-dione (4), and (3Z)-3-(3,4-dihydroxybenzylidene)-6-(3,4-dihydroxystyryl)-2,3-dihydro-2-methoxy-2-(2-oxo-propyl)furo[3,2-c]pyran-4-one (5), respectively. Some compounds including 2 and 3 showed in vitro selective cytotoxicity against a human lung cancer cell line (A549) and a liver cancer cell line (Bel7402). Possible biogenetic sequences to the formation of 1-9 are postulated.

Seventeen new alkaloids (1-17) and 14 known analogues have been isolated from an aqueous extract of the root of Isatis indigotica. The structures and absolute configurations of these compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic data analysis, including 2D NMR, single-crystal X-ray crystallography using anomalous scattering of Cu Kα radiation, and electronic circular dichroism spectra calculations based on the quantum-mechanical time-dependent density functional theory. Compounds 1, 2, and 3 are the first examples of natural products with unique linkages between a molecule of 2-(4-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)acetonitrile and 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)acetonitrile, 2-(4-methoxy-1H-indol-3-yl)acetonitrile, and 4-hydroxyphenylethane, respectively. Compounds (-)-4 and (+)-4 represent the first natural products with the pyrrolo[2,3-b]indolo[5,5a,6-b,a]quinazoline skeleton. Some structural assignments for the new alkaloids suggest that the assignments made for certain previously reported alkaloids require revision. Compounds 1-3 and arvelexin (18) show antiviral activity against the influenza virus A/Hanfang/359/95 (H3N2), with IC(50) values of 3.70-12.35 μM, and 17 inhibits Coxsackie virus B3 replication with an IC(50) of 6.87 μM.