Two new compounds from the roots of Ligusticum chuanxiong.

Two new compounds, named ligusticoside A (1), a novel phthalide derivative with a lactone ring, and 4-pentylcyclohex-3-ene-1alpha,2beta-diol (2), were isolated from the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong. Their structures were determined by spectral methods (MS, IR, UV, 1D and 2D NMR). An X-ray diffraction experiment was performed to confirm the structure of compound 1.