Four coumarin derivatives [selidinin 1, (+)-praeruptorin A 2, visnadin 3 and (R)-(+)-7-(2',3'-epoxy-3'-methylbutoxy)-coumarin 4] were isolated from the aerial parts of Ligusticum lucidum Mill. subsp. cuneifolium (Guss.) Tammaro (Apiaceae). This is the first report on the identification of these compounds in the Ligusticum genus. Their topical antiinflammatory activity was evaluated as the inhibition of croton oil-induced ear dermatitis in mice. Each compound (0.3 μmol/cm(2) ) induced a significant oedema reduction and compound 4 exerted an effect similar to that of the equimolar dose of the reference drug indomethacin.
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