Abstract
Chlorfortunones A (1) and B (2), two novel sesquiterpenoid dimers, were isolated from the roots of Chloranthus fortunei. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 represent a new type of sesquiterpenoid dimer possessing an unprecedented 3/5/6/6/6/5 hexacyclic system with a unique dispiro[4,2,5,2]pentadecane-6,10,14-trien moiety. A plausible biosynthetic pathway of 1 and 2 was proposed. Compound 1 showed transforming growth factor (TGF)-β inhibitory activity in MDA-MB-231 cells.