Two new benzo[c]phenanthridine alkaloids, 6-methyldihydrochelerythrine [1] and 6-methylnorchelerythrine [2], together with 23 known compounds, were isolated from the root bark of Zanthoxylum simulans. Structures were elucidated by spectral analysis. Among them, the pyranoquinoline alkaloids, zanthosimuline [3], and huajiaosimuline [4], exhibited cytotoxic activity. In addition, compound 4 showed significant antiplatelet aggregation activity and induced terminal differentiation with cultured HL-60 cells.

Three new benzenoid compounds, namely cryptamygin‐A, ‐B and ‐C together with eleven known compounds were isolated from the stem bark of Cryptocarya amygadalina. Their structures were elucidated by spectral analysis. The synthesis of cryptamygin‐A is also described.