Four new phenolic amides, 4-O-methylgrossamide (1), (E)-2-(4,5-dihydroxy-2-{3-[(4-hydroxyphenethyl)amino]-3-oxopropyl}-phenyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-N-(4-hydroxyphenethyl)acryl-amide (2), (Z)-lyciumamide C (3), (Z)-thoreliamide B (4), together with thirteen known phenolic amides were identified from the stem of Lycium barbarum. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. All compounds were evaluated for their anti-cancer activities against human glioma stem cell lines.

Three new C27-steroidal glycoalkaloids, spiralosides A–C (1–3), were obtained from the total alkaloids of Solanum spirale by chromatographic methods. On the basis of spectroscopic evidence, spiralosides A–C were elucidated as (22R,25S)-22,26-epiminocholest-5-ene-3β,16α-diol-N-acetyl-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl (1), (22R,25S)-22,26-epiminocholest-5-ene-3β,16α-diol-N-acetyl-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl (2), (22R,25S)-22,26-epiminocholest-3β,16α-diol-N-acetyl-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl (3), respectively. The total alkaloids of S. spirale have been screened for their antitussive and expectorant effects in intact animal model.

Three new indole glycosides 22-deoxystrictosamide (1), 22-deoxystrictosamide Nb-oxide (2) and vincosamide 2′-O-β-D-xylopyranoside-11-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), together with four known analogues were isolated from aqueous fraction of Strychnos nitida. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive analysis of spectroscopic data. All the alkaloids were tested for their cytotoxic activity, but they did not show any exciting result.

Alstoscholarisine F (1), a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid pigment with unprecedented carbon skeleton, and alstoscholarisine G (2) incorporated with a third nitrogen atom were isolated from the long-term stored leaves of Alstonia scholaris. Their structures were established by extensive MS and NMR spectroscopic analysis and the absolute configuration of 1 was defined by comparison of experimental and calculated ECDs. Compounds 1 and 2 were subjected to hippocampal neuronal stem cells (NSCs) proliferation evaluation, but they did not show significant effect.

Eight new monoterpenoid indole and quinoline alkaloids, scholarisines H–O (1–8), together with six known analogues, were isolated from seven-year stored leaves of Alstonia scholaris. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data and X-ray diffraction. The obtained compounds were presumably derived from the known precursors by mild oxidation during the post-harvest storage.

Six new indole alkaloids, named alstoniascholarines L–Q (1–6), together with nineteen known analogues were isolated from the inadequately dried leaves of Alstonia scholaris. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive analysis of spectroscopic data and by comparison of their physical and spectroscopic data with the literature values. In addition, the new alkaloids were tested for their cytotoxic and neurite outgrowth-promoting activities.

Eleven new indole alkaloids, alstoniascholarines A–K (1–11), along with one known analogue, were isolated from the aqueous fraction of Alstonia scholaris leaf extract. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data analysis, chemical transformation, and quantum theory. Alkaloid 4 possessed a novel skeleton with fused-ring and a six-membered ring, the absolute configuration of which was assigned by quantum theory. Alkaloids 6 and 10 showed the best antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa with an MIC value of 3.13 μg/mL.

Three novel ring-fused monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, alstolactines A–C (1–3), were isolated from the long-term stored leaves of Alstonia scholaris. Their structures were identified on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data and X-ray diffractions. Moreover, the absolute configurations of these related structures were indicated by the crystal X-ray diffractions (Mo Kα) of 1a, a chlorinated derivative of 1.

A new limonoid, 17-(5-methoxy-2-oxofuran-3-yl)-28-deoxonimbolide (1), and a new C21 steroidal saponin, 2α,4α-dihydroxy-pregn-5-en-16-one-3α-O-d-glucopyranoside (2), together with 11 known compounds were isolated from the methanol extract of the leaves of Azadirachta indica. The structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic analysis and putative biosynthetic origins. All the compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against six bacterial strains.

One new eudesmane sesquiterpenoid (1) named ecdysantherol A and two new benzene derivatives ecdysantherols B (2) and C (3), together with five known benzene derivatives (4–8) were isolated from the stems of Ecdysanthera rosea. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction. The known compounds were identified by the comparison of their spectroscopic data with reported literature data. Compound 1 showed moderate antibacterial activity against the Providensia smartii with MIC value of 12.5 μg/mL.

Gardovatine (1), the first Strychnos–Strychnos alkaloid with a C3/C7 cleaved backbone, was isolated from twigs and leaves of Gardneria ovate, together with an analogue divarine (2). The structure was established by extensive spectroscopic methods. Both compounds showed potential cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines.