New lignans from the roots of Schisandra sphenanthera.

Nine new lignans (1-8, 13) and five known ones (9-12, 14) have been isolated from the roots of Schisandra sphenanthera and were tested for their capacity to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-Picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH). Of these lignans tested, compounds 1, 7, 8 and 13 exhibited noteworthy antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 92, 115, 35 and 48 μg/mL, respectively. The anti-oxidative haemolysis of human red blood cells (RBCs) activity of the most active compound 8, which is similar to that of vitamin C, was evaluated.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel sesquiterpene mustards as potential anticancer agents.

Several novel series of sesquiterpene mustards (SMs) bearing nitrogen mustard and glutathione (GSH)-reactive α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone groups were successfully prepared for the first time and showed excellent antiproliferative activities in vitro. Among them, compounds 2e and 2g displayed the highest antiproliferative properties with IC50 values ranging from 2.5 to 8.