Litsea Species Research Articles

The Analgesic Potential of Litsea Species: A Systematic Review.

Various plant species from the Litsea genus have been claimed to be beneficial for pain relief. The PRISMA approach was adopted to identify studies that reported analgesic properties of plants from the Litsea genus. Out of 450 records returned, 19 primary studies revealed the analgesic potential of nine Litsea species including (1) Litsea cubeba, (2) Litsea elliptibacea, (3) Litsea japonica, (4) Litsea glutinosa, (5) Litsea glaucescens, (6) Litsea guatemalensis, (7) Litsea lancifolia, (8) Litsea liyuyingi and (9) Litsea monopetala. Six of the species, 1, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9, demonstrated peripheral antinociceptive properties as they inhibited acetic-acid-induced writhing in animal models. Species 1, 3, 4, 8 and 9 further showed effects via the central analgesic route at the spinal level by increasing the latencies of heat stimulated-nocifensive responses in the tail flick assay. The hot plate assay also revealed the efficacies of 4 and 9 at the supraspinal level. Species 6 was reported to ameliorate hyperalgesia induced via partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL). The antinociceptive effects of 1 and 3 were attributed to the regulatory effects of their bioactive compounds on inflammatory mediators. As for 2 and 5, their analgesic effect may be a result of their activity with the 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor (5-HT1AR) which disrupted the pain-stimulating actions of 5-HT. Antinociceptive activities were documented for various major compounds of the Litsea plants. Overall, the findings suggested Litsea species as good sources of antinociceptive compounds that can be further developed to complement or substitute prescription drugs for pain management.

THE GENUS LITSEA: A REVIEW OF ITS CYTOTOXIC POTENTIAL AND PHYTOCHEMISTRY

The family Lauraceae includes various genus in which Litsea has around 200-400 varieties which are widely scattered in the tropical and semi-tropical zones. In China, Litsea species are used traditionally in many disease conditions such as bone pain, diarrhoea, edema, dyspepsia, gastroenteritis and colds. Litsea glutinosa has been traditionally used in the treatment of tumors by the local people of Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bangladesh. Also, 15 other Litsea species are reported to have cytotoxic activity against various cancer cell lines, making this genus a promising potential source of anticancer compounds. This review provides comprehensive information about the cytotoxicity potential of various species in the genus Litsea along with secondary metabolites responsible, and its potential utility in lung, breast, hepatocellular, ovarian, prostate, colon and cervical cancer therapeutics as a botanical product. The published cytotoxicity data of these plants are mainly based on in vitro studies with very few molecular levels and mechanistic studies conducted. The optimistic results of these 16 species open unexplored vistas of natural product chemistry and the anticancer potential of this genus.

Two rare flavonoid glycosides from Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C. B. Rob.: experimental and computational approaches endorse antidiabetic potentiality

BackgroundLitsea glutinosa (Lour.) C. B. Rob. belongs to the Litsea genus and is categorized under the family of Lauraceae. The study aimed to investigate the phytoconstituents and pharmacological properties of methanol extract of leaves of Litsea glutinosa, focusing on antidiabetic activity via in vivo and in silico techniques.MethodsExtensive chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques were applied to isolate and characterize the constituents from the L. glutinosa plant species. The antidiabetic activity was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mice, and the computational study of the isolated compounds was carried out by utilizing AutoDock Vina programs. In addition, the pharmacokinetic properties in terms of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) and toxicological profiles of the isolated compounds were examined via in silico techniques.ResultsIn the present study, two flavonoid glycosides 4΄-O-methyl (2 ̋,4 ̋-di-E-p-coumaroyl) afzelin (1) and quercetin 3-O-(2 ̋,4 ̋-di-E-p-coumaroyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2) were isolated from the leaves of L. glutinosa and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and mass spectral data. Although compounds 1 and 2 have been reported twice from Machilis litseifolia and Lindera akoensis, and Machilis litseifolia and Mammea longifolia, respectively, this is the first report of this isolation from a Litsea species. Administering the methanolic extract of L. glutinosa at doses of 300 and 500 mg/kg/day to mice with diabetes induced by streptozotocin led to a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose levels (p < 0.05) starting from the 7th day of treatment. Besides, the computational study and PASS analysis endorsed the current in vivo findings that the both isolated compounds exerted higher binding affinities to human pancreatic α-amylase and aldose reductase than the conventional drugs. The in silico ADMET analysis revealed that the both isolated compounds have a favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile suitable for human consumption.ConclusionAccording to the current outcomes obtained from in vivo and in silico techniques, the leaf extract of L. glutinosa could be a natural remedy for treating diabetes, and the isolated phytoconstituents could be applied against various illnesses, mainly hyperglycemia. However, more investigations are required for extensive phytochemical isolation and pharmacological activities of these phytoconstituents against broader targets with exact mechanisms of action.

Character state diversity of Litsea (Lauraceae) leaves in Cianjur Herbarium Hortus Botanicus Tjibodensis

Herbarium serves as a storage place for plants that have been preserved, both in the form of dry and wet preserves. The specimen material is useful in determining the taxonomic status or identity of a plant. Litsea is one of the genera of the Lauraceae tribe (kamper-kamperan) which has similar leaf morphological characters among the species in it or even with other genera that are still in one tribe. The study aims to explain the variation of leaf morphological characters of species of Litsea clan members derived from herbarium specimens of the Cianjur Herbarium Hortus Botanicus Tjibodensis (CHTJ) collection. The research method uses direct observation of specimens in a careful, detailed, high concentration, and still refer to the information data contained in the herbarium sheet. The results showed that the petiole length ranged from 0.7 cm to 3 cm, the petiole surface was hairy (glabrescent) and glabrous. Species of the genus Litsea have leaf shape (circumscriptio): oval (ovalis/ellipticus), elongated (oblongus), and lobed (lanceolatus); The leaf tip (apex folii) is pointed (acutus) in 5 species, and tapered (acuminatus) in 4 species, obtuse (obtusus) in 3 species; the leaf base (base folii) is rounded (rotundatus) in 4 species, obtuse (obtusus) in 5 species, and pointed (acutus) in 3 species; while the arrangement of leaf bones (nervatio or venation) is pinnate (penninervis). The species also have flat leaf margins (margo folii) (integer), with the leaf blade (intervenium) being paper-like and parchment-like, the leaf color is green, and the leaf surface has pilosus.

Volatile constituents of the leaf and fruit essential oils of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. growing wild in Baoshan region, China

The chemical composition of the essential oil from the fruits and leaves of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Pers. (Lauraceae) growing wild in Baoshan region, Yunnan Province of China was investigated for the first time in 5.36% and 2.16% (w/w) yields, respectively, when analysed by GC and GC/MS. Ten and 25 components were identified in the fruit and leaf oils which constituted 99.15% and 99.4% of the oils. Of the fruit oil, the major components were neral (36.51%), geranial (44.23%), and citronella (8.77%). The major components of the leaf oil were linalool (67.37%), limonene (6.37%), β-bisabolene (6.03%), neral (5.86%), and caryophyllene oxide (3.20%). The analysis of the essential oil obtained from Baoshan revealed a significant abundance of citral and linalool in the fruits and leaves, respectively. This was the first Litsea species to exhibit β-bisabolene as the principal constituent.

Ethnobotanical study in the underexplored species of Genus Litsea (Lauraceae) in Northern Thailand

Abstract. Chaisoung N, Panyadee P, Long C, Ngernsaengsaruay C, Chaowasku T, Inta A. 2023. Ethnobotanical study in the underexplored species of Genus Litsea (Lauraceae) in Northern Thailand. Biodiversitas 24: 3977-4000. Ethnobotanical studies offer valuable insights into medicinal plant use, but accuracy is limited by the difficulty in identifying similar species during field surveys. This study aims to investigate the Genus Litsea Lam. (Lauraceae) plants in Thailand, specifically focusing on underexplored species with ethnobotanical value for future utilization. The present research aims to comprehensively analyze the ethnobotanical data by comparing the results from previous ethnobotanical documents with those obtained from our field surveys. From a comprehensive review of ethnobotanical documents published from 1996-2022, the study discovered seven species of Litsea report to be used in Thailand. In addition, a subsequent field survey from November 2019 to December 2021 revealed that 13 species were used, with 11 of these used for medicinal purposes. The study identified seven additional species not previously documented for their medicinal uses. Among these species, Litsea mollis Hemsl., Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C.B.Rob. and Litsea martabanica (Kurz) Hook.fil. have the highest use values and hold potential for future development, particularly L. mollis and L. martabanica. We also found that Litsea species were primarily used for treating digestive disorders. This study highlighted the importance of considering taxonomic complexities and conducting field surveys to assess plant uses accurately and can serve as a foundation for future research on these species, including their chemical analysis, biological activities, and pharmacological properties.

Comparative Analysis of Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Nine Species of Litsea (Lauraceae): Hypervariable Regions, Positive Selection, and Phylogenetic Relationships.

Litsea is a group of evergreen trees or shrubs in the laurel family, Lauraceae. Species of the genus are widely used for a wide range of medicinal and industrial aspects. At present, most studies related to the gene resources of Litsea are restricted to morphological analyses or features of individual genomes, and currently available studies of select molecular markers are insufficient. In this study, we assembled and annotated the complete chloroplast genomes of nine species in Litsea, carried out a series of comparative analyses, and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships within the genus. The genome length ranged from 152,051 to 152,747 bp and a total of 128 genes were identified. High consistency patterns of codon bias, repeats, divergent analysis, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and insertions and deletions (InDels) were discovered across the genus. Variations in gene length and the presence of the pseudogene ycf1Ψ, resulting from IR contraction and expansion, are reported. The hyper-variable gene rpl16 was identified for its exceptionally high Ka/Ks and Pi values, implying that those frequent mutations occurred as a result of positive selection. Phylogenetic relationships were recovered for the genus based on analyses of full chloroplast genomes and protein-coding genes. Overall, both genome sequences and potential molecular markers provided in this study enrich the available genomic resources for species of Litsea. Valuable genomic resources and divergent analysis are also provided for further research of the evolutionary patterns, molecular markers, and deeper phylogenetic relationships of Litsea.

Phylogenetic study of the New Caledonian endemic genus Adenodaphne (Lauraceae) confirms its synonymy with Litsea

ABSTRACT The genus Adenodaphne is currently considered endemic to New Caledonia, but its distinction from Litsea is questionable based on morphological similarity. An earlier phylogenetic analysis (ITS) including one species of Adenodaphne and two Asian species of Litsea did support their close relationship but did not permit resolution of their generic boundary. We sampled the four species of Adenodaphne currently recognized (11 accessions) and 11 of the 13 endemic species of Litsea currently recognized, plus one undescribed species (24 accessions in total). Based on our extensive herbarium studies, fieldwork, and especially our molecular phylogenetic analyses (ITS), we conclude that Adenodaphne is not distinct from Litsea and that all species of Adenodaphne should be recognized within Litsea, thereby necessitating the creation of two new species synonymies and one nomen novum. In addition, Litsea paoueensis is here synonymized with L. deplanchei. Finally, our phylogenetic analysis suggests that the sole species of Litsea from New Zealand, which is endemic, results from a rarely documented long-distance dispersal event from New Caledonia.

Plastid genome evolution of a monophyletic group in the subtribe Lauriineae (Laureae, Lauraceae)

Litsea, a non-monophyletic group of the tribe Laureae (Lauraceae), plays important roles in the tropical and subtropical forests of Asia, Australia, Central and North America, and the islands of the Pacific. However, intergeneric relationships between Litsea and Laurus, Lindera, Parasassafras and Sinosassafras of the tribe Laureae remain unresolved. In this study, we present phylogenetic analyses of seven newly sequenced Litsea plastomes, together with 47 Laureae plastomes obtained from public databases, representing six genera of the Laureae. Our results highlight two highly supported monophyletic groups of Litsea taxa. One is composed of 16 Litsea taxa and two Lindera taxa. The 18 plastomes of these taxa were further compared for their gene structure, codon usage, contraction and expansion of inverted repeats, sequence repeats, divergence hotspots, and gene evolution. The complete plastome size of newly sequenced taxa varied between 152,377 bp (Litsea auriculata) and 154,117 bp (Litsea pierrei). Seven of the 16 Litsea plastomes have a pair of insertions in the IRa (trnL-trnH) and IRb (ycf2) regions. The 18 plastomes of Litsea and Lindera taxa exhibit similar gene features, codon usage, oligonucleotide repeats, and inverted repeat dynamics. The codons with the highest frequency among these taxa favored A/T endings and each of these plastomes had nine divergence hotspots, which are located in the same regions. We also identified six protein coding genes (accD, ndhJ, rbcL, rpoC2, ycf1 and ycf2) under positive selection in Litsea; these genes may play important roles in adaptation of Litsea species to various environments.

Antidiarrheal Activity of Four Different Species of Litsea Available in Bangladesh

The objective of the present study includes the evaluation of the antidiarrheal properties of the methanol extracts of Litsea deccanensis Gamble (MELD) bark, Litsealancifolia (Roxb.) Hook. f. MELL),Litseaglutinosa Gamble (MELG) and Litsea monopetala Roxb. (MELM) leavesin Swiss albino mice. The antidiarrheal activity was evaluated by measuring percentage inhibition of diarrheal feces, total fecal output, gastrointestinal motility and by using peristaltic indices. Castor oil was used to induce diarrhea in the experimental animal. The experiments were carried out by using three different doses (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight) of these four plant extracts. The number of wet feces and total weight of the feces were significantly (p &lt; 0.05) and dose-dependently reduced by all the plant extracts and this effect was comparable with standard drug. MELD, MELL, MELG and MELM extracts at dose of 400 mg/kg body weight demonstrated diarrheal inhibition by 43.55%, 45.16%, 32.26% and 41.94%, respectively while it was 98.39% for the standard loperamide. Percentage (%) of fecal output for MELD, MELL, MELG and MELM extracts at the dose of 400 mg/kg were 40.14%, 62.27%, 64.06%, 46.26%, respectively.The gastrointestinal motility induced by castor oil was also reduced noticeably (p &lt; 0.05) by all the plant extracts with the increasing doses. The percentage inhibition of gastrointestinal motility at the dose of 400 mg/kg were 26.26%, 33.22%, 32.36% and 22.52% for the MELD, MELL, MELG and MELM extracts respectively, while it was 27.56% for loperamide. In most cases, all the plant extracts can reduce the peristaltic indices which were comparable to control. The obtained results from this study revealed that the methanol extracts of four different species of Litsea found in Bangladesh may have antidiarrheal potential. It also provides the basis for the traditional use of these plants to treat diarrhea.

Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Leaf Essential Oil of Two Litsea Species from Vietnam

Composition and Antioxidant Activity of Leaf Essential Oil of Two Litsea Species from Vietnam

Comparative Chloroplast Genomics of Litsea Lam. (Lauraceae) and Its Phylogenetic Implications

Litsea Lam. is an ecological and economic important genus of the “core Lauraceae” group in the Lauraceae. The few studies to date on the comparative chloroplast genomics and phylogenomics of Litsea have been conducted as part of other studies on the Lauraceae. Here, we sequenced the whole chloroplast genome sequence of Litsea auriculata, an endangered tree endemic to eastern China, and compared this with previously published chloroplast genome sequences of 11 other Litsea species. The chloroplast genomes of the 12 Litsea species ranged from 152,132 (L. szemaois) to 154,011 bp (L. garrettii) and exhibited a typical quadripartite structure with conserved genome arrangement and content, with length variations in the inverted repeat regions (IRs). No codon usage preferences were detected within the 30 codons used in the chloroplast genomes, indicating a conserved evolution model for the genus. Ten intergenic spacers (psbE–petL, trnH–psbA, petA–psbJ, ndhF–rpl32, ycf4–cemA, rpl32–trnL, ndhG–ndhI, psbC–trnS, trnE–trnT, and psbM–trnD) and five protein coding genes (ndhD, matK, ccsA, ycf1, and ndhF) were identified as divergence hotspot regions and DNA barcodes of Litsea species. In total, 876 chloroplast microsatellites were located within the 12 chloroplast genomes. Phylogenetic analyses conducted using the 51 additional complete chloroplast genomes of “core Lauraceae” species demonstrated that the 12 Litsea species grouped into four sub-clades within the Laurus-Neolitsea clade, and that Litsea is polyphyletic and closely related to the genera Lindera and Laurus. Our phylogeny strongly supported the monophyly of the following three clades (Laurus–Neolitsea, Cinnamomum–Ocotea, and Machilus–Persea) among the above investigated “core Lauraceae” species. Overall, our study highlighted the taxonomic utility of chloroplast genomes in Litsea, and the genetic markers identified here will facilitate future studies on the evolution, conservation, population genetics, and phylogeography of L. auriculata and other Litsea species.

Chemical constituents of Litsea elliptica and their alpha-glucosidase inhibition with molecular docking

Background: Litsea elliptica (LE) is an edible plant in Thailand, which has been used as vegetables, flavoring materials, and traditional herbal medicine. Some species of Litsea have been reported on anti-diabetic activity. However, LE has not been reported of chemical constituents and their alpha-glucosidase activity. Objectives: The aim was to study on chemical constituents and anti-diabetic activity through in vitro models of LE. Materials and Methods: Chromatographic and colorimetric enzyme methods with computer molecular docking were used in this research. Results: Anew quercetin-diglycoside (1) and six compounds (2-7) were isolated from LE which were elucidated as quercetin-3-O -α-rhamnopyranoside-O -(1→2)-α-apiofuranoside (1), quercetin-3-O -α-rhamnopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O -β-glucopyranoside (3), uridine (4), isoboldine (5), reticuline (6) and β-sitosterol-D-glucopyranoside (7). Four isolated compounds exhibited anti-alpha glucosidase activity by inhibition concentration at 50% (μg/mL) values as 5 (243.25)

Effects of Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Persoon Essential Oil Aromatherapy on Mood States and Salivary Cortisol Levels in Healthy Volunteers.

Aromatherapy is one of the complementary therapies to improve health. The aromatic essential oils have been used in the treatment procedure through inhalation of essential oil vapor, massage, and herbal bathing. Litsea species are generally used in traditional medicine, and Litsea cubeba (Lour.) Persoon is a potent fumigant plant, used in cosmetics and foods as essence. The chemical composition of the essential oil of different parts of L. cubeba has been found to be varied. L. cubeba essential oil (LEO) is known for the treatment of cognition-associated discomforts. The current study assessed the impact of inhalation of LEO on mood states and salivary cortisol levels of healthy people. Fifteen healthy volunteers were involved in the study. The Profile of Mood States (POMS) Questionnaire and ELISA methods were employed to determine the mood states and salivary cortisol level, respectively. (-)-β-pinene, β-citral, cis- and trans-citral, citronellal, limonene, linalool, and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one were detected in LEO by GC-MS analysis. The heart rate and blood pressure were not affected significantly during LEO exposure. The inhalation of LEO significantly improved the total mood disturbance and reduced the confusion among the healthy human subjects. LEO inhalation reduced the salivary cortisol level at a notable level. The results of the current study warrant further studies on the beneficial effect of LEO aromatherapy in healthy and diseased subjects to uncover the therapeutic nature of the L. cubeba plant.

Altitude and Ecological distribution of genus Litsea (Lauraceae) in Western Ghats of Karnataka, India

India is a subcontinent in the world with varied climatic regions, topographic variation results in the very diverse ecological diversity. Litsea is a largest genus in the family Lauraceae differentiated by its dioecious nature, distributed in tropical and subtropical regions which is influenced by some environmental factors. Present research work focussed on distribution of genus in the central Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. Litsea species were collected from 2013 to 2018 in different sampling sites. A total of 12 species were identified and reported from this region. The diversity indices of Litsea vary from species to species as well as region to region. L. floribunda is frequently distributed in all the study sites and it showed highest density when compared with other species, whereas, L. deccanensis distributed only in Sakaleshpur region and it showed lower diversity. The highest number of Litsea species occurred in Sakaleshpur region (10 species) and Mullayyanagiri region having only one species that is L. floribunda. The results indicate that Litsea distribution and diversity is rich in moderate rainfall regions of Western Ghats. The macro and micro nutrients of the soil in the study area reflects the distribution of the genus. There is a gradual increasing in tendency of the species richness with increasing elevation when compared with lower elevated regions. The genus also showed more sensitive and positive association with the elevation factor.

Characterization of two complete chloroplast genomes of Lindera megaphylla (Lauraceae)

Lindera megaphylla (Lauraceae) is an ecologically important and dominant evergreen broad-leaf tree species in the warm-temperate and subtropical zone of China. In this study, we sequenced and assembled two complete genomes of L. megaphylla (LM01 and LM02) based on the next-generation sequencing data. The two complete chloroplasts of L. megaphylla are 152,741 bp in length, including two same length inverted repeats of 20,067 and 20,068 bp, a small single copy of 18,882 and 18,914 bp and a large single copy of 93,726 and 93,691 bp for LM01 and LM02 respectively. They all contain 84 protein-coding, 36 tRNA and eight rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genomes indicates that L. megaphylla is closely related to another Lindera and Litsea species.

Comparative chloroplast genomics and phylogenetics of nine Lindera species (Lauraceae)

Lindera, a core genus of the Lauraceae family, has important economic uses in eastern Asia and North America. However, its historical diversification has not been clarified. In this study, we report nine newly sequenced Lindera plastomes. The plastomes of these nine Lindera species range from 152,211 (L. nacusua) to 152,968 bp (L. metcalfiana) in length, similar to that of another Lauraceae species, Litsea glutinosa (152,618 bp). The length variation of these plastomes derived from the length variation in the loci ycf1, ycf2, ψycf1, and ndhF-ψycf1. Comparing our sequences with other available plastomes in the Lauraceae indicated that eight hypervariable loci, ihbA-trnG, ndhA, ndhF-rpl32, petA-psbJ, psbK-psbI, rps16, trnS-trnG, and ycf1, could serve as DNA barcodes for species delineation, and that the inverted repeats (IRs) showed contraction/expansion. Further phylogenetic analyses were performed using 32 complete plastomes of Lauraceae and seven barcodes from 14 additional species of Lindera and related species in the core Lauraceae. The results showed that these Lindera species grouped into two or four sub-clades, and that two Litsea species and Laurus nobilis were located in the same sub-clade as five Lindera species. These data support a close relationship between the genera Laurus, Lindera, and Litsea, and suggest that Lindera is polyphyletic.

Two new records of Litsea (Lauraceae) from Singapore and the lectotypification of twenty-two names from several Lauraceae genera

Two species of Litsea (Lauraceae) are recorded for Singapore for the first time (LItsea spathacea Gamble and L. tomentosa Blume). Both species are known only from 19th century specimens and must be co

A new species of Litsea (Lauraceae) from Kerala part of Western Ghats, India

A new species of Litsea from India is described and illustrated. Litsea indoverticillata is recognized from the Malabar Wildlife sanctuary of Nilgiri phytogeographical zone of southern Western Ghats. It is distinguished from the closely related L. quinqueflora and L. verticillata by straggling shrub habit; 7–15 mm long, glabrous petiole, chartaceous and glabrous leaves, glabrous midrib; 15–24 pairs of lateral veins; solitary, glabrous, and pruinose inflorescence; greenish-white to whitish flowers.

Litsea Species as Potential Antiviral Plant Sources.

Litsea verticillata Hance (Lauraceae), a Chinese medicine used to treat swelling caused by injury or by snake bites, was the first plant identified by our National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) project to exhibit anti-HIV activities. From this plant, we discovered a class of 8 novel litseane compounds, prototypic sesquiterpenes, all of which demonstrated anti-HIV activities. In subsequent studies, 26 additional compounds of different structural types were identified. During our continuing investigation of this plant species, we identified two new litseanes, litseaverticillols L and M, and a new sesquiterpene butenolide, litseasesquibutenolide. Litseaverticillols L and M were found to inhibit HIV-1 replication, with an IC[Formula: see text] value of 49.6[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M. To further determine the antiviral properties of this plant, several relatively abundant isolates, including a litseane compound, two eudesmane sesquiterpenes and three lignans, were evaluated against an additional 21 viral targets. Lignans 8 and 9 were shown to be active against the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), with EC[Formula: see text] values of 22.0[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M ([Formula: see text]) and 16.2[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]M ([Formula: see text]), respectively. Since many antiviral compounds have been discovered in L. verticillata, we further prepared 38 plant extracts made from the different plant parts of 9 additional Litsea species. These extracts were evaluated for their anti-HIV and cytotoxic activities, and four of the extracts, which ranged across three different species, displayed 97-100% inhibitory effects against HIV replication without showing cytotoxicity to a panel of human cell lines at a concentration of 20 μg/mL.