Bicycloillicinone asarone acetal: a novel prenylated C6-C3 compound increasing choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity from Illicium tashiroi.

Bicycloillicinone asarone acetal (1), a novel bicyclic prenylated C6-C3 compound, has been isolated from the woods of Illicium tashiroi and its structure has been elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and chemical degradation. Compound 1 was found to increase choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in culture of P10 rat septal neurons.