Ligularia, an important genus of the Compositae family, has captured the interest of natural product chemists for years. Phytochemical investigations on the title genus have led to isolation of hundreds of secondary metabolites with various skeletons. Herein, we summarized the chemical constituents of this genus and their biological activities over the past few decades.

6/7-Seco rearranged spiro-indolone alkaloids, meloyunines A(1) and B(2) and a monoterpenoid quinoline alkaloid meloyunine C(3) together with its possible intermediate 14, 15-dehydromelohenine B(4), and their precursor Δ¹⁴-vincamenine(5) were isolated from Melodinus yunnanensis. All structures were elucidated based on NMR, FTIR, UV, and MS spectroscopic data. The isolation of monoterpenoid indole, quinoline, and its immediate from the same plant chemically supported the biosynthesis of quinoline from indole. Compound 2 was cytotoxic against several human cancer cell lines

Three non-isoprenoid botryane sesquiterpenoids, named boledulins A-C(1-3), have been isolated from the cultures of basidiomycete Boletus edulis Bull. The structures were established by means of spectroscopic methods. Boledulin A(1) exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against five human cancer cell lines.

Three new highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids, wilsonianadilactones D-F(1-3), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra wilsoniana. Their structures were established by means of spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1-3 showed weak anti-HIV-1 activity with the therapeutic index(TI) values(CC₅₀/EC₅₀) greater than 8.16, 14.7, and 17.5, respectively.

Four new cyathane-type diterpenoids, nigernins C-F(1-4), together with four known compounds, were isolated from the fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Phellodon niger. The structures of these new compounds were established on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments. In addition, nigernin F(4) with an unusual 3, 4-seco cyathane diterpenoid skeleton was found to occur in nature for the first time. It was suggested to be as an oxidation product of C-3-C-4 bond cleavage of nigernin E(3).

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of the monotypic plant, Musella lasiocarpa, led to the isolation of four rare bicyclic diarylheptanoids, musellarins B-E(2-5), two new phenylphenalenones, 2-methoxy-9-(3', 4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one(9), 2-methoxy-9-(3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxyphenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one(10), a new acenaphtylene derivative, trans-(1S, 2S)-3-(4'-methoxyphenyl)-acenaphthene-1, 2-diol(13), and two new sucrose esters, 1, 2', 3', 4', 6'-O-pentaacetyl-3-O-trans-p-coumaroylsucrose(16), 1, 2', 3', 4', 6'-O-pentaacetyl-3-O-cis-p-coumaroylsucrose(17), together with nine known compounds. In addition,(4E, 6E)-1-(3', 4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-7-(4"-hydroxyphenyl)-hepta-4, 6-dien-3-one(15) was isolated for the first time from a natural source. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by analysis of their spectroscopic data. Compounds 2, 6, 8-10, 12, and 14 were cytotoxic toward several of the human tumor cell lines(HL-60, SMMC-7721, A-549, MCF-7, and SW480). Of these, the new compound 9 was the most potent one, with IC₅₀ values of 5.8, 10.3, 6.3, 3.3, and 2.3 μM, respectively.

Three new secoiridoids, swertiakoulactone(1) and swertiakosides A and B(2 and 3), were isolated from Swertia kouitchensis. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses including MS, IR, 1D and 2D NMR data. By the anti-hepatitis B virus(HBV) assay on Hep G 2.2.15 cells line in vitro, compound 1 showed moderate activities inhibiting the HBsAg secretion(IC₅₀=1.10 mM, SI=4.39) and HBV DNA replication(IC₅₀=1.16 mM, SI=4.12).

A new cyclic nonapeptide, amanexitide(1), along with the known cyclopeptides, α-and β-amanitins, was isolated from the fruiting bodies of Amanita exitialis, a newly described poisonous mushroom endemic to Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China. Its amino acid composition and absolute configuration were determined by chemical degradation and derivatization followed by chiral GC analysis. Its amino acid sequence was elucidated by extensive analysis of ESIMS/MS and FTICRMS data. The occurrence of 1 in this mushroom is interesting because it has a structure closely related to antamanide, a cyclic decapeptide with antidote activity against amatoxins and phallotoxins, occurring in A. phalloides.

Rosa x alba is cultivated almost exclusively for the production of aromatic water and fruits widely used as ingredients in some traditional food preparations sold commercially. Results of the proximate and elemental analyses revealed that flowers exhibited higher moisture content while the dry matter content was higher in leaves. Total fat and ash was higher in fruits when compared with leaves and flowers. All studied organs were found to be rich in essential mineral such as K, Ca, P and Mg. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of the volatile oils revealed different composition patterns between organs. Linalool and geraniol were found as major constituents of the leaf oil whereas 2-phenethyl alcohol and eugenol were the major constituents of the floral oil. In contrast, fruits showed very distinct composition and alkanes/alkenes were found to have the major contribution. The present composition could justify the traditional use of Rosa x alba which could be considered as a potential source of essential minerals and volatile constituents.