OBJECTIVETo study the alkaloids of the Chinese medicinal herbs Daphniphyllum macropodum for in search for new bioactive substances.

METHODThe CHCl3 extract of D. macropodum was subjected to repeated column chromatography on silica gel to afford four pure compounds (1-4). Their structures were determined on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the data reported in the literature.

RESULTThe four known compounds were isolated and elucidated as Daphniphyllum alkaloids with different carbon skeletons, namely longistylumphylline A (1), deoxycalyciphylline B (2), daphnicyclidin B (3) and H (4), respectively.

CONCLUSIONAll compounds were isolated from the titled plant for the first time. The discovery of daphnicyclidin B (3) and H (4) further confirmed the biogenetic relationship between the two compounds and the previously reported macropodumines A-C, found in the same plant.