NEUROTROPIC COMPONENTS FROM STAR ANISE (ILLICIUM-VERUM HOOK FIL)

Three new neurotropic sesquiterpenoids, veranisatins A, B and C, were isolated from star anise (Illicium verum HOOK. fil., Illiciaceae). Ver anisatins showed convulsion and lethal toxicity in mice at a dose of 3 mg/kg (p.o.), and at lower doses they caused hypothermia. Veranisatin A and the related compound, anisatin, were tested for the other pharm acological activities such as locomotor activity and analgesic effect. Both compounds decreased the locomotion enhanced by methamphetamine a t oral doses of 0.1 and 0.03 mg/kg, respectively, and demonstrated the analgesia on acetic acid-induced writhing and tail pressure pain at a lmost similar doses.