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A new pimarane-type diterpenoid, sucupiol (1), and nine known furanocassane-type diterpenoids, vouacapane (2), 7β-hydroxyvouacapane (3), 7β-acetoxyvouacapane (4), 6α-hydroxyvouacapane (5), 6α-acetoxyvouacapane (6), sucutinirane F (7), sucutinirane E (8), 6α, 7β-diacetoxyvouacapane (9), and 6α, 7β-diacetoxyvouacapane-14β-al (10), were isolated from the seeds of Bowdichia virgilioides and their structures were elucidated by using 2D NMR data. The isolation of 1 provides evidence to support the presence of intermediate A in the course of biosynthesis of furanocassane-type diterpenoids.

One abietane-type and one dinoricetexane-type diterpenoid, salviskin A (1) and salviskin B (2), respectively, together with fourteen known diterpenoids, were isolated from Salvia przewarskii. Structural elucidation of these compounds was performed by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR. The compounds isolated were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against HeLa and HL-60 cells.

A termolecular condensation reaction of harmane, alkyl halide, and dimethyl oxalate has been developed for the construction of a variety of canthin-5,6-diones. The carbon skeleton of amarastelline A, a fluorescent canthin alkaloid, was synthesized in 99.8% yield by applying this procedure.

From the roots of Ligularia cymbulifera collected in Yunnan Province, China, two new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids (1 and 2) together with ten known compounds (3–12) were obtained through the precise chemical component elucidation. The structure determination was mainly carried out with 1D and 2D NMR data.

A new diterpenoid with a rearranged skeleton, prattinin A (1), was isolated along with five known compounds (2–6) from the roots of Salvia prattii. The structure of 1 bearing a methyl group at the C-5 position was established by extensive spectroscopic analyses and the absolute configuration of 1 was elucidated by comparing the calculated and experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Compounds 1, 3, 4, and 5 exhibited moderate or weak cytotoxicity against HL-60 and HeLa cell lines.

Fifteen Isodon diterpenoids (1-15) were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HeLa and HL-60 human cancer cell lines, and against murine vincristine (VCR)-resistant P388 cells. Kamebanin (14) showed efficient cytotoxic activity against HeLa and HL-60 cells. In addition, although dihydroenmein (2) and trichorabdal B (7) were inactive against several tested cell types, they were found to have cytotoxic-enhancing activity of VCR against VCR-resistant P388 cells.

Fifteen Isodon diterpenoids (1–15) were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against HeLa and HL-60 human cancer cell lines, and against murine vincristine (VCR)-resistant P388 cells. Kamebanin (14) showed efficient cytotoxic activity against HeLa and HL-60 cells. In addition, although dihydroenmein (2) and trichorabdal B (7) were inactive against several tested cell types, they were found to have cytotoxic-enhancing activity of VCR against VCR-resistant P388 cells.