Four new steroidal constituents (1–4) along with two known steroidal glycosides (5 and 6) were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Smilacina japonica. Analysis of their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic profiles identified the compounds as (25S)-5α-spirostan-9(11)-en-3β, 17α-diol (1); (25S)-5α-spirostan-9(11)-en-3β, 12β-diol (2); (25S)-5α-spirostan-9(11)-en-3β, 17α-diol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3); (25S)-5α-spirostan-9(11)-en-3β, 17α-diol-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-d-galactopyranoside (4); japonicoside B (5); and japonicoside C (6). All six compounds showed cytotoxic activity against SMMC-7712, Bel-7402, A549, H460, and K562 human cancer cells.

Three new C19-norditerpenoid alkaloids (1–3), along with two known C19-norditerpenoid alkaloids (4,5), have been isolated from Aconitum szechenyianum. Based on extensive spectroscopic techniques (1D, 2D-NMR, IR, and MS) and chemical methods, their structures were established as szechenyianine D (1), szechenyianine E (2), szechenyianine F (3), 8-O-methyl-14-benzoylaconine (4), and spicatine A (5). The immunosuppressive effects of compounds 1–5 were studied using a ConA-induced or LPS-induced splenocyte proliferation model. In vitro tests showed that Compounds 2, 4, and 5 suppressed ConA-induced or LPS-induced splenocyte proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. The CC50/IC50 values of 2, 4, and 5 suggested that these compounds were potential immunosuppressive agents for the treatment of autoimmune diseases characterized by arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.

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One new C18-diterpenoid alkaloid, along with four known diterpenoid alkaloids have been isolated from the roots of Aconitum sinomontanum. Their structures were established as sinomontanine I (1), delcosine (2), lepenine (3), napelline (4), and kirinine B (5) by extensive spectroscopic techniques and chemical methods.The immunosuppressive effects of compounds 1-4 were evaluated in vitro through ConA-induced or LPS-induced splenocyte proliferation, with IC50 values of 8.909 μM, 1.515 μM，5.078 μM, and 1.167 μM (ConA-induced)，or 3.661 μM, 4.417 μM, 5.129 μM, and 1.830 μM (LPS-induced), and compounds 1-4 showed a significant cytotoxic effect with CC50 values of 447.5 μM, 702.2 μM, 310.6 μM and 794.1 μM, respectively. The CC50/IC50 value of 2 and 3 suggested that these compounds were potential immunosuppressive agents for the treatment of autoimmune diseases characterized by arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis.