The isolation of two new dauricin-like alkaloids, Espinine and Espinidine, from Berberis laurina, and their structural elucidation by spectroscopy and degradation are described. For the purpose to isolate biologically active substance, we have long been investigating a number of mushrooms. During these studies, we have succeeded in isolating a new hypocholesterolemic substance (designated as lentinacin) from all edible mushroom, 'Shiitake' (Lentinus edodes), as pure crystals and confirmed its chemical structure as 2(R),3(R)-dihydroxy-4-(9-adenyl)-butyric acid (I) by spectrometry, degradation study and further total synthesis.