A comprehensive investigation of anti-inflammatory diarylheptanoids from the leaves of Alnus formosana

► HPLC-SPE-NMR is demonstrated to be a good tool for chemical screening of natural products. ► 27 Diarylheptanoids including 13 hitherto unknown were isolated from Alnus formosana. ► 5-O-Butylhirusutanonol and alnuside A possess good anti-inflammatory activities without significant cytotoxicity.