Futoenone and a series of its derivatives have shown inhibitory activities against matrix metalloproteinases, the molecular modelings of these compounds indicate the preferred binding of the P2' site of the enzymes. Neolignan derivative compounds of the 2,4-diaryl-1,3-dithiolane and futoenone variety exhibit both platelet activating factor receptor(PAF)and 5-lipoxygenase antagonist activity.