Phthalides and other constituents from Ligusticum porteri; sedative and spasmolytic activities of some natural products and derivatives.

The chemical constituents of the organic extracts from the rhizomes of Ligusticum porteri were isolated, characterised and identified as Z-ligustilide, Z-butylidenephthalide, diligustilide, tokinolide B, riligustilide, senkyunolides F and I, ferulic acid, among other known compounds. The preparation of 4,5-dehydrotokinolide B from tokinolide B is reported, and its structure confirmed by X-ray analysis. The sedative and spasmolytic activities of some of these natural products and derivatives were evaluated by applying them to in vivo and in vitro models. Several of these dimeric phthalides displayed sedative and spasmolytic properties that may correlate with some popular uses of L. porteri.