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The glycosidic constituents of two varieties of Perilla frutescens have been compared. A new phenylpropanoid glucoside named perilloside E has been isolated from the fresh leaves of the purple type plant. The structure was determined on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence.

Three new monoterpene glucosides named perilloside B-D have been isolated from the fresh leaves of Perilla frutescens. The structures were determined on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence.

Three new gymnomitrane sesquiterpenoids have been isolated from the liverwort Marsupella emarginata var. patens together with the known (−)-gymnomitrene and (−)-ar-curcumene. Their structures and absolute configurations have been determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence as well as from the results of an X-ray analysis of a derivative. We also describe the ring expansion reaction of the gymnomitrane framework and the chemosystematics of the genus Marsupella.

A new monoterpene glucoside named perilloside A has been isolated from the fresh leaves of Perilla frutescens . Its structure has been characterized on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence.

A new friedelane triterpene alcohol, maytensifolin-C, has been isolated from the stems of Maytenus diversifolia . Its structure was established as 6β-hydroxyfriedelan-3,16,21-trione by spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray analysis.

Two enantiomeric cuparene-type sesquiterpenoids, (R)-(−)-cuparene ( 1 ) and (R)-(−)-δ-cuparenol ( 2 ), have been isolated from the liverwort, Bazzania pompeana . The structures and absolute configurations of the two compounds have been determined.

13C NMR spectra of several 2,3-seco-alloaromadendrane-type acetyl hemiacetals were analysed and the structure of an additional plant growth-inhibitor was determined to be (+)-9α-acetoxyovalifoliene. The biological activity of the new compound is also described.

A series of ent-sesquiterpenoids corresponding to the optical antipodes of those in higher plants have been isolated from the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. These sesquiterpenoids provide yet another example of the peculiar stereospecificity of the biogenesis of the liverwort sesquiterpenoids and suggest a special taxonomic position of the liverworts in the plant kingdom.

Two homologous series of n-paraffins and sec-alcohols from C20 to C34 or C35 were isolated a wax constituents of a liverwort, Isotachis japonica. In both series, odd-members were predominant compared with even-members: the ratio of the total amount of odd- to total amounts of even-members was 3·9 in the n-paraffin homologues, and 16·5 in the sec-alcohol homologues.

Low-boiling constituents from the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe were examined by GLC. The following compounds were identified: n -heptane, n -octane, n -nonane, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, n -butyraldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, acetone, n -propanol, n -nonanol, diethyl sulfide, ethyl isopropyl sulfide, methyl allyl sulfide, methyl and ethyl acetates, α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, sabinene, myrcene, limonene, β-phellandrene and 1,8-cineole.

Three new diterpenoids of the verrucosane class were isolated as minor constituents of the methanol extract of the liverwort Mylia verrucosa and their structures shown to be 2β,9α,13β-trihydroxyverrucosane,9α-acetoxy-2β,13β-dihydroxyverrucosane and 2β,13β-dihydroxy-9-oxoverrucosane.

The chemical constituents of the volatile oils from Chrysanthemum indicum, C. yoshinaganthum and C. cuneifolium, three botanically related tetraploid species, are described. By spectroscopic methods, 42 compounds were identified, including 22 monoterpenoids, 17 sesquiterpenoids and 3 acetylenic compounds. The sesquiterpenoids estafiatin (C. yoshinaganthum) and valeranone (C. indicum) have been found for the first time in Chrysanthemum species.

The sterol fractions of eight leafy liverworts were analyzed by GLC and GC-MS. Five 3β-sterols, cholest-5-en-3β-ol, 24-methylcholest-5,22-dien-3β-ol, 24-methylcholest-5-en-3p-ol, 24-ethylcholest-5,22-dien-3β-ol and 24-ethylcholest-5-en-3β-ol, were detected in all samples but there were differences in the relative amounts present.

Methyl decanoate, undecanoate, laurate, tridecanoate, myristate, pentadecanoate, palmitate, oleate and stearate were isolated as steam-volatile components from this liverwort. Total amounts of these methyl esters accounted for 75·3 per cent of the steam-volatile substances and methyl palmitate (60%) was the major constituent.

A series of fatty acid ethyl esters ranging from C 14 to C 24 was isolated from a hexane extract of the liverwort Conocephalum conicum , these esters accounted for 77% of the extract. The ethyl esters consisting of even-numbered fatty acids were predominant and ethyl palmitate was the major constituent.