Pharmacologically active components of Todopon Puok (Fagraea racemosa), a medicinal plant from Borneo.

The lignans of (+)-pinoresinol, (+)-epipinoresinol, (+)-lariciresinol and (+)-isolariciresinol together with phenols such as syringaldehyde and 7,8-dihydro-7-oxy-coniferyl alcohol were isolated from Todopon Puok (Fagraea racemosa Jack ex Wall), a medicinal plant from Borneo, using a bioassay of the relaxation effect on norepinephrine (NE)-induced contraction in rat aortic strips. The plant extract also exhibited analgesic properties in the acetic acid-induced writhing and tail pressure tests in mice, with the activity being concentrated in the lignan fraction. (+)-Pinoresinol showed analgesic effect on writhing symptoms in mice which were dose-dependent, and produced local anesthesia in guinea pigs.