Illicaborins A–C, three prenylated C6–C3 compounds from the fruits of Illicium arborescens

Three new prenylated C6–C3 compounds, illicaborins A–C (1–3), were isolated and characterised from the fruits of Illicium arborescens Hayata. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses (UV, CD, IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 1H–1H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) including molecular modelling. Compound 1 possesses a new carbon skeleton having a prenylated C6–C3 skeleton with an additional CH2OH group at the C-2 position. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1–3 were tested and evaluated against Hep-2, Daoy, MCF-7 and WiDr tumour cell lines.