A new amide, magnolamide (1), and a new lignan, magnolone (2), whose structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis, were found in the leaves of Magnolia coco. Eleven known compounds (episesamin, sesamin, magnolol, fargesin, aschantin, epieudesmin, syringaresinol,
Based on the inhibition of Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation as marker, the major antioxidants in the fruits of Forsythia suspensa and the stems of Magnolia coco were identified. Of these bioactive tetrahydrofurofuran lignans, pinoresinol, phillygenin, and syringaresinol were more potent than probucol.