The molecule is a daphnane-type orthoester diterpene with potential cholesterol-lowering activity, found exclusively in plants of the family Thymelaeaceae. It is a diterpene alkaloid, an ortho ester, an epoxide and a tertiary alpha-hydroxy ketone. It derives from a daphnane.
(1R,2R,6S,7S,8R,10S,11S,12R,14S,16R,18R)-6,7-dihydroxy-8-(hydroxymethyl)-4,18-dimethyl-14-phenyl-16-prop-1-en-2-yl-9,13,15,19-tetraoxahexacyclo[12.4.1.01,11.02,6.08,10.012,16]nonadec-3-en-5-one