Arylnaphthalide lignans from Cleistanthus collinus.

Chemical examination of the aerial parts of Cleistanthus collinus afforded the arylanphthalide lignans, cleistanone (1), diphyllin (2), cleistanthins A (3), C (4) and D (5), and 4-O-(3"-O-methyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-diphyllin (6). The first compound is a new member of the rare group of arylnaphthalide lignans containing an alkoxy group on the lactone ring. The structure of the compound was determined from its spectral data, chemical transformations and partial synthesis from diphyllin (2). The new lignan, 1 and its acetyl derivative, 7 were found to exhibit cytotoxicity against MT(2) cell lines.