Skeletal Stilbenolignan Enantiomers and Flavonoid Derivatives Against Depression in Mice from Dracaena cochinchinensis Exudates.

A pair of enantiomeric stilbene-lignan hybrids, (-)- and (+)-dracaenolignan A (1), and four new flavonoid derivatives, xuejieins F-I (2-5), were isolated from Dracaena cochinchinensis exudates. Compound 1 features an unprecedented carbon skeleton with a 6/6/5/6-fused ring system and four consecutive chiral carbons. Their structures were clarified by spectroscopic data, theoretical NMR calculations, and ECD calculations. Furthermore, a potential biogenetic pathway for 1 is put forward. Biological evaluations inspired by the chemical defense of D. cochinchinensis revealed that (-)-1 significantly alleviates LPS-induced neuroinflammation and depression-like behaviors, suggesting potential antidepressant lead structure.