Sesquilignans and sesquiterpenoid from the stem barks of Illicium simonsii and their anti-AChE activity

Three new sesquilignans, 1–3, a new sesquiterpenoid, 4, and three known compounds were isolated from the stem barks of Illicium simonsii. The structures of new compounds (1–4) were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. A biosynthetic pathway was proposed for simonsienols A-C (1–3). Anti-AChE activity and anti-BuChE activity were evaluated for all compounds except for α-cadinol ethyl ether (4). As a result, isodunnianol (7) exhibited anti-AChE activity with an IC50 value of 13.0 μM.