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The stem bark of Cedrelopsis microfoliata has yielded the new compounds microfolian (1), microfolione (2), and microfolicoumarin (6) along with the known compounds agrandol (3), cedrecoumarin A (4), obliquin (5), and sesquichamaenol (7). Compounds 2−4 were found to show agonistic activity on both alpha- and beta-estrogenic receptors, and compounds 1, 3, and 4 were shown to inhibit the chemiluminescence of reactive oxygen metabolites and showed superoxide scavenging activity.

Two cucurbitacin aglycons were isolated from the dried rhizomes of Picrorhiza scrophulariaeflora and were identified as 25-acetoxy-2,3,16,20-tetrahydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5,23-dien-22-one (picracin, 1) and 2,3,16,20,25-pentahydroxy-9-methyl-19-norlanosta-5,23-dien-22-one (deacetylpicracin, 2). Both compounds inhibit mitogen-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation at an IC50 value of 1 μM.

Extracts of the roots, herb and flowers of Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. were investigated for in vitro immunomodulatory properties. Strong inhibitory activity was found towards the classical pathway of complement in the ethyl acetate extracts of roots and flowers, in all methanol extracts and in the aqueous root extract. Except for the light-petroleum extracts, all fractions tested inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The diethyl ether root extract was found to be most potent in inhibiting lymphocyte proliferation. The role of tannins and other constituents in these processes are discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.