Anti-inflammatory coumarins with short- and long-chain hydrophobic groups from roots of Angelica dahurica cv. Hangbaizhi

Molecular evidence provides new insights into the evolutionary origin of an ancient traditional Chinese medicine, the domesticated "Baizhi"

Introduction

"Baizhi" is a famous herbal medicine in China, and it includes four landraces named as 'Hangbaizhi', 'Chuanbaizhi', 'Qibaizhi', and 'Yubaizhi'. Long-term artificial selection had caused serious degradation of these germplasms. Determining the wild progenitor of the landraces would be benefit for their breed improvements. Previous studies have suggested Angelica dahurica var. dahurica, A. dahurica var. formosana, or A. porphyrocaulis as potential candidates, but the conclusion remains uncertain, and their phylogenetic relationships are still in controversy.

Methods

In this study, the genetic variation and phylogenetic analyses of these species and four landraces were conducted on the basis of both the nrITS and plastome datasets.

Results

Genetic variation analysis showed that all 8 population of four landraces shared only one ITS haplotype, meanwhile extremely low variation occurred within 6 population at plastid genome level. Both datasets supported the four landraces might be originated from a single wild germplasm. Phylogenetic analyses with both datasets revealed largely consistent topology using Bayesian inference and Maximum likelihood methods. Samples of the four landraces and all wild A. dahurica var. dahurica formed a highly supported monophyletic clade, and then sister to the monophyly clade comprised by samples of A. porphyrocaulis, while four landraces were clustered into one clade, which further clustered with a mixed branches of A. porphyrocaulis and A. dahurica var. dahurica to form sister branches for plastid genomes. Furthermore, the monophyletic A. dahurica var. formosana was far distant from the A. dahurica var. dahurica-"Baizhi" clade in Angelica phylogeny. Such inferences was also supported by the evolutionary patterns of nrITS haplotype network and K2P genetic distances. The outcomes indicated A. dahurica var. dahurica is most likely the original plant of "Baizhi".

Discussion

Considering of phylogenetic inference and evolutionary history, the species-level status of A. dahurica var. formosana should be accepted, and the taxonomic level and phylgenetic position of A. porphyrocaulis should be further confirmed. This study preliminarily determined the wild progenitor of "Baizhi" and clarified the phylogenetic relationships among A. dahurica var. dahurica, A. dahurica var. formosana and A. porphyrocaulis, which will provide scientific guidance for wild resources protections and improvement of "Baizhi".

Apiaceae Medicinal Plants in China: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, Bolting and Flowering (BF), and BF Control Methods

Apiaceae plants have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the removing dampness, relieving superficies, and dispelling cold, etc. In order to exploit potential applications as well as improve the yield and quality of Apiaceae medicinal plants (AMPs), the traditional use, modern pharmacological use, phytochemistry, effect of bolting and flowering (BF), and approaches for controlling BF were summarized. Currently, about 228 AMPs have been recorded as TCMs, with 6 medicinal parts, 79 traditional uses, 62 modern pharmacological uses, and 5 main kinds of metabolites. Three different degrees (i.e., significantly affected, affected to some extent, and not significantly affected) could be classed based on the yield and quality. Although the BF of some plants (e.g., Angelica sinensis) could be effectively controlled by standard cultivation techniques, the mechanism of BF has not yet been systemically revealed. This review will provide useful references for the reasonable exploration and high-quality production of AMPs.

Dicoumarol: from chemistry to antitumor benefits

Dicoumarol, a coumarin-like compound, is known for its anticoagulant properties associated with the ability to inhibit vitamin K, being prescribed as a drug for several decades. The pharmaceutical value of dicoumarol turned it into a focus of chemists' attention, aiming its synthesis and of dicoumarol derivatives, bringing to light new methodologies. In recent years, several other bioactive effects have been claimed for dicoumarol and its derivatives, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, and anticancer, although the mechanisms of action underlying them are mostly not disclosed and additional research is needed to unravel them. This review presents a state of the art on the chemistry of dicoumarols, and their potential anticancer characteristics, highlighting the mechanisms of action elucidated so far. In parallel, we draw attention to the lack of in vivo studies and clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy as drugs for later application.

The Angelica dahurica: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

Angelica dahurica (A. dahurica) root is a famous edible medicinal herb that has been used in China for thousands of years. To date, more than 300 chemical constituents have been discovered from A. dahurica. Among these ingredients, coumarins and volatile oils are the major active compounds. Moreover, a few other compounds have also been isolated from the root of A. dahurica, such as alkaloids, phenols, sterols, benzofurans, polyacetylenes and polysaccharides. Modern pharmacological studies demonstrated that the root of A. dahurica and its active components displayed various bioactivities such as anti-inflammation, anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, analgesic activity, antiviral and anti-microbial effects, effects on the cardiovascular system, neuroprotective function, hepatoprotective activity, effects on skin diseases and so on. Based on these studies, this review focused on the research publications of A. dahurica and aimed to summarize the advances in the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology which will provide reference for the further studies and applications of A. dahurica.

Chemical constituents of Ruta graveolens L. and their melanogenic effects and action mechanism

Ruta graveolens L. has been widely used to treat various skin ailments, especially vitiligo. In this study, we isolated a new furanocoumarin named Rutagrarin (1) along with 14 known compounds (2-15) from the aerial parts of R. graveolens and elucidated their chemical structures via various spectroscopy. We found that compound 5 promoted melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity in B16 cells. Further investigation on underlying mechanisms revealed that compound 5 activated the transcription of microtia-related transcription factors and promoted the production of melanin in B16 cells via the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. Therefore, we confirmed the traditional efficacy of R. graveolens and speculated that compound 5 could be used as a natural drug to treat vitiligo.

Evaluation of the Inhibitory Effects of Pyridylpyrazole Derivatives on LPS-Induced PGE2 Productions and Nitric Oxide in Murine RAW 264.7 Macrophages

A series of thirteen triarylpyrazole analogs were investigated as inhibitors of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The target compounds 1a-m have first been assessed for cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 macrophages to determine their non-cytotoxic concentration(s) for anti-inflammatory testing to make sure that the inhibition of PGE₂ and NO production would not be caused by cytotoxicity. It was found that compounds 1f and 1m were the most potent PGE₂ inhibitors with IC₅₀ values of 7.1 and 1.1 μM, respectively. In addition, these compounds also showed inhibitory effects of 11.6% and 37.19% on LPS-induced NO production, respectively. The western blots analysis of COX-2 and iNOS showed that the PGE₂ and NO inhibitory effect of compound 1m are attributed to inhibition of COX-2 and iNOS protein expression through inactivation of p38.

Identifying the Chinese Herbal Medicine Network and Core Formula for Allergic Rhinitis on a Real-World Database

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with a primary diagnosis of AR (ICD-9-CM code: 477.9) in 2010 were included, and the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan was used as the data source. Association rule mining and social network analysis were used to establish and explore the CHM network. Possible molecular pathways of the CHM network were summarized and compared with commonly used western medicine (WM) by conducting overrepresentation analysis in the Reactome pathway database. The potential proteins acted by CHMs were obtained from the CHM ingredient-protein databases, including STITCH, TCMSP, TCMID, and TCM@Taiwan.

RESULTS

There were 89,148 AR subjects found in 2010, and a total of 33,507 patients ever used CHM. On an average, 5.6 types of CHMs were utilized per prescription. Xin-Yi-Qing-Fei-Tang was used most frequently (25.5% of 222,279 prescriptions), while Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang with Xin-Yi-San was the most commonly prescribed CHM-CHM combination. Up to six distinctive clusters could be found among the CHM network, and core CHMs could be found for AR, such as Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang and Xin-Yi-Qing-Fei-Tang. A total of 140 molecular pathways were covered by the CHM network (2,432 ingredients from 31 kinds of CHMs), while 39 WMs covered 55 pathways. Among pathways responding to the immune system, WM mainly acted on cytokine signaling-related pathways, while CHM mostly acted on neutrophil/macrophage-related innate pathways and dendritic cell-related adaptive immunity pathways.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated and analyzed the CHM network for AR. Core CHM for AR and possible molecular pathways were presented as well, and this information is crucial for researchers to select candidates for CHM-related studies.

Maytenus robusta Reissek, a medicinal plant popularly used to treat digestive diseases, promotes ameliorative effects in colon and liver of mice exposed to dextran sulfate sodium

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Maytenus robusta Reissek (Celesteraceae), popularly named as cafezinho do mato or coração de bugre, is employed to treat inflammatory digestive diseases in the south of Brazil. However, despite popular usage, the effects of this species on an experimental model of ulcerative colitis are unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the effects of M. robusta extract (HEMR) on colon and liver from mice with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Firstly, the cytotoxicity of HEMR and its effects on ROS and nitrite production in IEC-6 cells were evaluated. The experimental colitis was established by adding 3% DSS on drinking water of mice and the effects of HEMR (1-100 mg/kg, p.o, once a day by 7 days) in colonic and hepatic tissues were analyzed.

RESULTS

The HEMR (1-100 μg/mL) did not alter the cell viability but reduced nitrite production of IEC-6 stimulated by LPS. Moreover, HEMR (100 mg/Kg) attenuates macro and microscopic alterations in the colon from mice exposed to DSS, as evidenced by a reduction of the colon shortening, attenuation of the epithelial erosion, submucosal edema and preservation of the Goblet cells integrity, as well as the restoration of mucin depletion. The treatment with HEMR increased GSH amount, reduced LOOH levels and normalizes CAT activity in the colon. The group treated with HEMR showed increased GST activity, reduced MPO activity and decreased inflammatory cytokines secretion (TNF and IL-6) in the colonic tissue. In the liver, HEMR increased GST activity, decreased the GPx activity and reduced IL-6 levels. Furthermore, the HEMR treatment reduced AST and ALT serum levels in mice exposed to DSS. Finally, the HEMR was able to reduce intestinal transit.

CONCLUSIONS

HEMR treatment minimizes inflammation of the colon and maintaining the antioxidant homeostasis. In addition, HEMR may be a potential tool to prevent hepatic injury secondary to ulcerative colitis.

Cytotoxic heterodimers of meroterpene phenol from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia

Seventeen undescribed heterodimers of meroterpene phenol, psocorylins A-Q, were isolated from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia. Their another monomeric unit derived from flavonone, chalcone, coumarin and isoflavone, respectively. Psocorylins A-E were rare natural spiroketals with the skeleton of 1,4,8-trioxaspiro[4.5]decane deriving from flavonone, and their plausible biosynthetic pathways were proposed. These structures were established by spectroscopic methods. Their absolute configurations were assigned via single-crystal X-ray diffraction, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations and Rh₂(OCOCF₃)₄-induced ECD spectra. Psocorylins B-E, F, M and Q exhibited potent cytotoxic activities against different kinds of tumor cells with IC₅₀ values less than 10 μM.

Overview on developed synthesis procedures of coumarin heterocycles

Considering highly valuable biological and pharmaceutical properties of coumarins, the synthesis of these heterocycles has been considered for many organic and pharmaceutical chemists. This review includes the recent research in synthesis methods of coumarin systems, investigating their biological properties and describing the literature reports for the period of 2016 to the middle of 2020. In this review, we have classified the contents based on co-groups of coumarin ring. These reported methods are carried out in the classical and non-classical conditions particularly under green condition such as using green solvent, catalyst and other procedures.

Effect of co-administration of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma volatile oil on pharmacokinetic fate of xanthotoxol, oxypeucedanin hydrate, and byakangelicin from Angelicae Dahuricae Radix in rat

A combination of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma has been widely used as the herb pair in traditional Chinese medicine to treat stroke, migraine, and epilepsy. However, the underlying synergistic mechanism of the herb pair remains unknown. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma volatile oil on the pharmacokinetic parameters of xanthotoxol, oxypeucedanin hydrate, and byakangelicin from Angelicae Dahuricae Radix in rat, and in vitro absorption behavior of the three compounds using rat everted gut sac, in situ single-pass intestinal perfusion, and Caco-2 cell monolayer models. The pharmacokinetic study exhibited clear changes in the key pharmacokinetic parameters of the three main coumarins through co-administering with Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma volatile oil (50 mg/kg), the area under curve and the maximum plasma concentration of xanthotoxol increased 1.36 and 1.31 times; the area under curve, the maximum plasma concentration, mean residence time, half-life of elimination, and the time to reach peak concentration of oxypeucedanin hydrate increased by 1.35, 1.18, 1.24, 1.19 and 1.49 times, respectively; the area under curve, mean residence time, half-life of elimination, and time to reach peak concentration of byakangelicin climbed 1.29, 1.27, 1.37, and 1.28 times, respectively. The three coumarin components were absorbed well in the jejunum and ileum in the intestinal perfusion model, when co-administered with Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma volatile oil (100 μg/mL). The in vivo and in vitro experiments showed good relevance and consistency. The results demonstrated that the three coumarin compounds from Angelicae Dahuricae Radix were absorbed through the active transportation, and Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma volatile oil could promote the intestinal absorption and transport of these compounds by inhibiting P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated efflux.

Mining of simple sequence repeats (SSRs) loci and development of novel transferability-across EST-SSR markers from de novo transcriptome assembly of Angelica dahurica

Angelica dahurica is a widely grown plant species with multiple uses, especially in the medical field. However, the frequent introduction of A. dahurica to new areas has made it difficult to distinguish between varieties. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) detected based on transcriptome analyses are very useful for constructing genetic maps and analyzing genetic diversity. They are also relevant for the molecular marker-assisted breeding of A. dahurica. We identified 33,724 genic SSR loci based on transcriptome sequencing data. A total of 114 primer pairs were designed for the SSR loci and were tested for their specificity and diversity. Ten SSR loci in untranslated regions were ultimately selected. Subsequently, 56 A. dahurica ecotypes collected from different regions were analyzed. The SSR loci comprised 2–8 alleles, with a mean of 5.2 alleles per locus. The polymorphic information content value and Shannon’s information index were 0.6274–0.2702 (average of 0.4091) and 1.3040–0.5618 (average of 0.8475), respectively. Thus, the 10 novel SSRs identified in this study were almost in accordance with Harvey-Weinberg equilibrium and will be useful for analyzing A. dahurica genetic relationships. The results of this study confirm the potential value of transcriptome databases for the development of new SSR markers.

Study of the anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activity of Brachychiton rupestris and Brachychiton discolor leaves (Malvaceae) using in vitro models

Background

Brachychiton rupestris and Brachychiton discolor (Malvaceae) are ornamental trees native to Australia. Some members of Brachychiton and its highly related genus, Sterculia, are employed in traditional medicine for itching, dermatitis and other skin diseases. However, scientific studies on these two genera are scarce. Aiming to reveal the scientific basis of the folk medicinal use of these plants, the cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic activities of Brachychiton rupestris and Brachychiton discolor leaves extracts and fractions were evaluated. Also, phytochemical investigation of B. rupestris was performed to identify the compounds exerting the biological effect.

Methods

Extracts as well as fractions of Brachychiton rupestris and Brachychiton discolor were tested for their cytotoxicity versus hepatoma HepG2, lung A549, and breast MDA-MB-231 cancer cell lines. Assessment of the anti-allergic activity was done using degranulation assay in RBL-2H3 mast cells. Anti-inflammatory effect was tested by measuring the suppression of superoxide anion production as well as elastase release in fMLF/CB-induced human neutrophils. Phytochemical investigation of the n-hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions of B. rupestris was done using different chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques.

Results

The tested samples showed no cytotoxicity towards the tested cell lines. The nonpolar fractions of both B. rupestris and B. discolor showed potent anti-allergic potency by inhibiting the release of β-hexosaminidase. The dichloromethane fraction of both species exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing superoxide anion generation and elastase release with IC₅₀ values of 2.99 and 1.98 μg/mL, respectively for B. rupestris, and 0.78 and 1.57 μg/mL, respectively for B. discolor. Phytochemical investigation of various fractions of B. rupestris resulted in the isolation of β-amyrin acetate (1), β-sitosterol (2) and stigmasterol (3) from the n-hexane fraction. Scopoletin (4) and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (5) were obtained from the dichloromethane fraction. Dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4-O-β-D-glucoside (6) and dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9-O-β-D-glucoside (7) were separated from the ethyl acetate fraction. Scopoletin (4) showed anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activity.

Conclusions

It was concluded that the nonpolar fractions of both Brachychiton species exhibited anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory activities.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12906-018-2359-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Natural Products Research in China From 2015 to 2016

This review covers the literature published by chemists from China during the 2015-2016 on natural products (NPs), with 1,985 citations referring to 6,944 new compounds isolated from marine or terrestrial microorganisms, plants, and animals. The emphasis is on 730 new compounds with a novel skeleton or/and significant bioactivity, together with their source organism and country of origin.

Anti-Inflammatory Phenolic Acid Esters from the Roots and Rhizomes of Notopterygium incisium and Their Permeability in the Human Caco-2 Monolayer Cell Model

A new ferulic acid ester named 4-methyl-3-trans-hexenylferulate (1), together with eight known phenolic acid esters (2–9), was isolated from the methanolic extract of the roots and rhizomes of Notopterygium incisium. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic techniques, including 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. 4-Methoxyphenethyl ferulate (8) NMR data is reported here for the first time. The uptake and transepithelial transport of the isolated compounds 1–9 were investigated in the human intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayer model. Compounds 2 and 6 were assigned for the well-absorbed compounds, compound 8 was assigned for the moderately absorbed compound, and compounds 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9 were assigned for the poorly absorbed compounds. Moreover, all of the isolated compounds were assayed for the inhibitory effects against nitric oxide (NO) production in the lipopolysaccharide-activated RAW264.7 macrophages model and L-N⁶-(1-iminoethyl)-lysine (L-NIL) was used as a positive control. Compounds 1, 5, 8, and 9 exhibited potent inhibitory activity on NO production with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 1.01, 4.63, 2.47, and 2.73 μM, respectively, which were more effective than L-NIL with IC₅₀ values of 9.37 μM. These findings not only enriched the types of anti-inflammatory compounds in N. incisum but also provided some useful information for predicting their oral bioavailability and their suitability as drug leads or promising anti-inflammatory agents.

Simultaneous Determination of Three Furanocoumarins by UPLC/MS/MS: Application to Pharmacokinetic Study of Angelica dahurica Radix after Oral Administration to Normal and Experimental Colitis-Induced Rats

In traditional oriental medicine, Angelica dahurica Radix (ADR) is used in the treatment of gastrointestinal, respiratory, neuromuscular, and dermal disorders. We evaluated the pharmacokinetic profiles of oxypeucedanin, imperatorin, and isoimperatorin, major active ingredients of ADR, in normal and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis rats. A rapid, sensitive, and validated UPLC/MS/MS method was established for evaluating the pharmacokinetics of three furanocoumarins. After oral administration of ADR (0.5 and 1.0 g/kg), blood samples were collected periodically from the tail vein. In colitis rats, the time to reach the peak concentration (T_max) of imperatorin and isoimperatorin was significantly delayed (p < 0.05). Lower peak plasma concentrations (C_max) and longer mean residence times for all furanocoumarins were also observed (p < 0.05) compared with normal rats. There was no significant difference in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve or elimination half-lives. Thus, the delayed T_max and decreased C_max, with no influence on the elimination half-life, could be colitis-related changes in the drug-absorption phase. Therefore, the prescription and use of ADR in colitis patients should receive more attention.

Simultaneous Quantification of Nine New Furanocoumarins in Angelicae Dahuricae Radix Using Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography with Tandem Mass Spectrometry

A series of new furanocoumarins with long-chain hydrophobic groups, namely andafocoumarins A–H and J, have been isolated from the dried roots of Angelica dahurica cv. Hangbaizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae radix) in our previous study, among which andafocoumarins A and B were demonstrated to have better anti-inflammatory activity than the positive controls. In this work, a sensitive, accurate, and efficient ultra-fast liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UFLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of above-mentioned nine compounds in four cultivars of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Kinetex 2.6u C18 100 Å column (100 × 2.1 mm, 2.6 µm). The mobile phases were comprised of acetonitrile and water with a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. Using the established method, all components could be easily separated within 12 min. With the multiple reaction monitor mode, all components were detected in positive electrospray ionization. The method was validated with injection precision, linearity, lower limit of detection, lower limit of quantification, precision, recovery, and stability, respectively. The final results demonstrated that the method was accurate and efficient, which could be used to simultaneously quantify the nine andafocoumarins in Angelicae Dahuricae Radix. The results also indicated that in different batches of Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, some of the andafocoumarins were significantly different in terms of content.

Synthesis of New Tricyclic and Tetracyclic Fused Coumarin Sulfonate Derivatives and Their Inhibitory Effects on LPS-Induced Nitric Oxide and PGE2 Productions in RAW 264.7 Macrophages: Part 2

The synthesis of a new series of 21 fused coumarin derivatives is described, and the biological evaluation of their in vitro antiinflammatory effects as inhibitors of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂ ) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The target compounds 1a-u were first tested for cytotoxicity to determine a non-toxic concentration for antiinflammatory screening, so that the inhibitory effects against NO and PGE₂ production would not be caused by cytotoxicity. Compounds 1f and 1p were the most active PGE₂ inhibitors with IC₅₀ values of 0.89 and 0.95 µM, respectively. Western blot and cell-free COX-2 screening showed that their effects were due to inhibition of both COX-2 protein expression and COX-2 enzyme activity. Their IC₅₀ values against the COX-2 enzyme were 0.67 and 0.85 µM, respectively, which is more potent than etoricoxib. The selectivity indexes of compounds 1f and 1p against COX-2 compared to COX-1 were 41.1 and 42.5, respectively. Compound 1f showed strong inhibitory effects at 5 µM concentration on COX-2 mRNA expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, the tricyclic compounds 1l and 1n as well as the tetracyclic analog 1u were the most potent NO inhibitors, with one-digit micromolar IC₅₀ values. They showed dose-dependent inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression. The tetracyclic derivative 1u was the most potent inhibitor of NO production. It also exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on iNOS mRNA expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Novel phthalide derivatives from the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong and their inhibitory effect against lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

Five new phthalide derivatives, including one with a new skeleton and one unusual phthalide dimer, were isolated from the rhizomes of Ligusticum chuanxiong.