The shrub Illicium oligandrum is a member of the anise family and is used in folk medicine for rheumatoid arthritis. In their search for the physiologically active components, a team in China has now isolated dimeric prenylated C₆–C₃ compounds from the stem bark of the shrub. The compounds dubbed illicidiones A, B and C, were characterized by NMR, UV and IR spectroscopy, chemical analyses and single-crystal X-ray crystallography.

In terms of activity, they elicited an anti-inflammatory response in tests based on measuring enzyme inhibition ratios in rat cells. The compounds had only a weak effect compared to ginkgolide B, one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents used in traditional medicine.

• Dimeric Prenylated C₆–C₃ Compounds from the Stem Bark of Illicium oligandrum
  W.-Z. Tang, S.-G. Ma, J. Qu, S.-S. Yu, Y.-B. Liu, D.-M. Su, J. Liu,
  J. Nat. Prod. 2011.
  DOI: 10.1021/np100651n