Structural chemistry and biological activities of natural products from Chinese herbal medicines

This is a brief account of recent developments (1978-1994) in natural product chemistry and bioactivity related to Chinese herbal medicine. In the period covered, more than thousand chemically new constituents were isolated and their structures elucidated. We have presented most of the structural formulae for the sake of clarity, along with passing mentions of pertinent biological activities. The isolates were grouped under different headings according to structure types.