Three arylnaphthalene norlignans were isolated from the root of Vitex rotundifolia. Their structures were established from spectroscopic evidence as 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-7-hydroxy-8-methoxynaphthalene-3-carbaldehyde, 1-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)-2,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxynaphthalene-3-carbaldehyde and 2,7-dihydroxy-1,9,10-trimethoxy-7H-benzo[c]fluorene-6-carbaldehyde, respectively. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.