TONKINELIN - A NOVEL ANNONACEOUS ACETOGENIN FROM UVARIA-TONKINENSIS

Further studies on the root bark of Uvaria tonkinensis Finet et Gagnep . (Annonaceae) led to the isolation of a new Annonaceous acetogenin, t onkinelin (1). The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of spect ral data and chemical evidence. This compound represents an unusual ty pe of C-37 Annonaceous acetogenin, having neither tetrahydrofuran (THF ) nor epoxide rings and possessing only a vicinal diet in the hydrocar bon chain. Preliminary pharmacological tests showed that tonkinelin (1 ) inhibits human leukemia (HL-60) and human colon adenocarcinoma (HCT- 8) cell lines in vitro.