Phytochemical study of and its biological activities.

Sixteen compounds, including two new natural products ( and ), were obtained from the twigs of . The structures were elucidated based on NMR, MS, IR data and optical rotation values. Compounds , , and displayed moderate antibacterial activities against clinical isolates; compounds , , , and protected neural cells against oxidative stress; and compounds and exhibited anti-acetylcholinesterase activity.

(9βH)-Pimaranes and Derivatives from the Tuber of Icacina trichantha.

New 17-nor-pimaranes (1, 2), (9βH)-pimaranes (3, 4), and 17-nor-(9βH)-pimarane (5) were isolated from the tuber of Icacina trichantha. The structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic and HRMS data. The absolute configurations of 3 and 5 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.

Germacranes and m-menthane from Illicium lanceolatum.

Three new germacrane sesquiterpenes and a new m-menthane monoterpene were isolated together with four known compounds from the pericarp of Illicium lanceolatum, an adulterant to star anise (Illicium verum). All compounds were isolated from Illicium plants for the first time. The absolute stereochemistry of all germacranes and m-menthane was established by a combination of NMR and the modified Mosher's ester method.