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Five unreported alkaloids including four amide alkaloids (1a, 2a, 3a, and 3b) and one carbazole alkaloid (4) with two known compounds (1b, 2b) were obtained from the stems of Clausena lansium. Their structures were demonstrated by spectroscopic experiments. And the absolute configurations of compounds 1a, 1b, 2b, and 3b were determined by single X-ray diffraction analysis. The neuroprotection assay showed that compound 4 had moderate inhibition effect on PC12 cells induced by serum withdrawal at the concentration of 10 μM. And compounds 1a and 4 had weak protective effects on primary neurons against oxygen glucose deprivation injury at the concentration of 10 μM.

Seven eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids, including three pairs of racemic compounds (1a–3a and 1b–3b) and a sesquiterpenoid lactone (4), were obtained from the roots of Chloranthus serratus. The structures of these sesquiterpenoids were characterized based on spectroscopic analyses, ECD calculations, and X-ray diffraction experiment. Neuroprotection assays of the isolated eudesmane-type sesquiterpenoids were conducted on H2O2 damaged PC12 cells. At the concentration of 10 μM, compounds 1b and 4 increased cell viability from 54.8 ± 3.3% to 76.8 ± 2.3 and 72.7 ± 8.2%, respectively.

Three new diterpenoids (1–3) and three new esterifying lignans (4–6) were isolated from the leaves of Tripterygium wilfordii. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, NMR, HRESIMS, and ECD method). At 10 μmol/L, compounds 4–6 showed moderate inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in LPS-induced macrophages with inhibitory rate >80%.

A rare sesquiterpenoid possessing a 6/6 bicyclic system fused with two clustered furan units and a pair of guaiane-type sesquiterpenoids were acquired from the roots of Chloranthus henryi. Their structures with absolute configurations were characterized with spectroscopic data, ECD, and X-ray diffraction analysis. All three sesquiterpenoids showed moderate neuroprotective activities on PC12 cells damaged with hydrogen peroxide.

Six new and one known dihydroagarofuran sesquiterpenoids esterified with organic acids were obtained from the leaves of Tripterygium wilfordii. Spectroscopic techniques (UV, IR, MS, NMR, ORD and CD) were used for the structure elucidation of the compounds. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were confirmed by X-ray single crystallographic analyses. The inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-induced macrophages of 1–7 were conducted. At 10 μmol/L, compounds 1, 2 and 7 showed moderate inhibitory effects on NO production in LPS-induced macrophages with inhibitory rate at 31.2 ± 3.6, 40.9 ± 4.3, and 66.79 ± 3.1%, respectively.

Three pairs of new germacranolides, (+)/(−)-chlogermacrones A-C, along with two known analogues were obtained from the roots of Chloranthus henryi. Spectroscopic techniques and single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analyses were used for the structure elucidation of the compounds. All of the isolated compounds were tested for their neuroprotective effects on H2O2 damaged PC12 cells, compounds 3 and 5 increased cell viability from 43.4 ± 1.3% to 99.6 ± 8.7 and 68.1 ± 4.8% at 10 μM, respectively.

Eight undescribed 9,19-cycloartane type triterpenoid glycosides (cimdalglnoside A-H) and ten known analogues were obtained from the phytochemical research on the roots of Actaea dahurica (syn. Cimicifuga dahurica ). All compounds were characterised by spectroscopic experiments, and chemical method. All the compounds isolated were assayed for cytotoxicity to five human cancer cell lines. Cimdalglnoside G showed promising cytotoxicities against Hela, and MCF-7 cell lines with IC 50 values at 7.7 and 12.2 μM.