A phthalide with cytoprotective and antiproliferative activities; protects against cell injury induced by corticosterone in PC12 cells at 0.125-0.5 mg/ml; reduces corticosterone-induced apoptosis at 0.5 mg/ml in PC12 cells; inhibits cell proliferation of HT-29 colon cancer (IC50 = 54.17 μM) but not non-cancerous human CCD-18Co colon cells (IC50 = 109.11 μM)