A new dibenzocyclooctadiene lignan named angustifolin D (1) together with four known lignans: kadsulignan L (2), kadsulignan N (3), schisantherin P (4) and meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid (5) were isolated from the stems of Kadsura angustifolia. Their structures and stereochemistries were elucidated by spectral studies. Compounds 2 and 5 showed moderate platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonistic activities with IC50 values of 2.6

A considerable number of studies have been performed on plants of the Valeriana genus in the family of Valerianaceae. These investigations have yielded iriodoids, sesquiterpenoids, lignans, and alkaloids with pharmacological properties, including sedative, cytotoxic, antitumor, antionxidant, and vasorelaxant activities [1-5]. Valeriana jatamansi JONES, an annual herd distributed in the southwestern area of the people's Republic of China, was known in Chinese folk medicine to have tranquilizing hypnotic and antiviralactivities [6-8]. Previous chemical investigation of V. jatamansi revealed the presence of iriodoids, sesquiterpenoids, and an essential oil [2] [6] [8]. Further investigation of the roots of this plant led now to the isolation of two new iridoid triesters, valeriotriates A (1) and B (2). It is noteworthy that few naturally occurring 6-hydroxy-substituted iridoids were foud in the plants of the genus Valeriana. We herein report the isolation and characterization of 1 and 2.

The lignans, gomisin G (1), schisantherin A (2), benzoylgomisin Q (3) and isoanwulignan (4) were isolated from the stems of Schisandra henryi. Compound 1 showed moderate DNA strand scission activity and significant cytotoxic effect on leukemia and Hela cells in vitro. Compound 1 represents a new type of DNA strand scission agent.

Eight dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans were isolated from the stems of Schisandra propinqua (Wall.) Hook. f. et Thoms. Their structures were elucidated as acetylgomisin R (1), angeloylgom isin R (2), gomisins A (3), B (4), N (5) and O (6), 6-O-benzoylgomosin O (7) and schisantherin A (8) by spec-tral studies. Amongthem, compound 1 was a new one, compound 2 was discovered in the genus Schisan-dra for the first time and the otherswere originally isolated from Schisandra propinqua.

Three new dibenzocylooctadiene lignans, named angustifolin A, B and C, were isolated from the stems of Kadsura angustifolia. Their structures and stereochemistries were elucidated by spectral studies.