Three alkaloids from Reineckia carnea herba and their antitussive and expectorant activities.

Three alkaloids, (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethylammonium chloride (1), p-(acetylamino)-phenol (2) and 4,4'-diacetamidodiphenyl ether (3), were isolated from Reineckia carnea herba. Their structures were determined by detailed analysis of their 1D and 2D NMR spectra and MS. Compounds 1 and 3 were new natural products. Compound 2 was isolated for the first time from the Reineckia genus. Compound 1 displayed significant in vivo antitussive and expectorant activities.