Taxodione, a DNA-binding compound from Taxodium distichum L. (Rich.).

8-beta-Hydroxypimar-15-en-19-oic acid (1), taxodione (2), 6,7-dehydro-8-hydrotaxodone (3), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), and shikimic acid (5) were isolated from the leaves of Taxodium distichum L. (Rich.) for the first time. Previously reported compounds [beta-sitosterol (6), isorhamnetin (7), quercetin (8), isorhamnetin-3-O-alpha-arabinofuranoside (9), quercetin-3-O-a-arabinofuranoside (10)] have also been isolated. The activity of taxodione as an inhibitor for hepatic stellate cells was determined. The antitumour activity of 2, 3, and 5 using a DNA affinity probe was examined.