New obovatol trimeric neolignans with NO inhibitory activity from the leaves of Magnolia officinalis var. biloba

[Display omitted] •Six new obovatol trimeric neolignans were isolated from the leaves of Magnolia officinalis var. biloba.•1 and 2 are first examples of neolignans formed from three obovatols bearing rare 1,4-benzodioxepane moiety.•Compounds 1–3 inhibited NO production with IC50 values of 8.01, 20.21 and 4.05 µM, respectively. Six new obovatol trimeric neolignans, houpulignans A–F (1–6) were isolated from the leaves of Magnolia officinalis var. biloba. Their structures were determined on the basis of the interpretation of HRESIMS, NMR data, and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. Compounds 1 and 2 are the first examples of neolignans derived from three units of obovatol bearing a rare 1,4-benzodioxepane moiety. Compound 3 possesses a benzodihydropyran ring, meanwhile three units of obovatol in 4–6 are connected by an alkyl chain. Compounds 1–3 inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells with IC50 values of 8.01, 20.21, and 4.05 µM, respectively.