Research on Isodon species: still going strong

Isodon species have been much studied for their biologically active ingredients, and Sun and co-workers report the isolation, characterization, and biological activities of twenty three compounds, including three new ones. The new compounds from Isodon coetsa are neolignan, triterpenoid, and diterpenoid types, showing that Isodon species have diverse types of compounds, in addition to the much-explored kaurane type diterpenoids. They determined the chemical structures based on extensive spectroscopic analyses and comparison with related compounds. Their report is expected to be yet another stepping stone for more exciting compounds from Isodon species.