The hexane extract of the fruit of Schizandra chinensis (Schisandraceae) was found to show significant inhibition of the activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE). In further studies, fourteen lignans were isolated, and evaluated for their inhibitory effect on AChE. The compounds having both aromatic methylenedioxy and hydroxyl groups on their cyclooctadiene ring, such as gomisin C (6), gomisin G (7), gomisin D (8), schisandrol B (11) and gomisin A (13), entirely inhibited AChE in dose dependent manners, with IC50 values of 6.71 +/- 0.53, 6.55 +/- 0.31, 7.84 +/- 0.62, 12.57 +/- 1.07 and 13.28 +/- 1.68 microM, respectively. These results indicate that the lignans could potentially be a potent class of AChE inhibitors.