AROMIN AND AROMICIN, 2 NEW BIOACTIVE ANNONACEOUS ACETOGENINS, POSSESSING AN UNUSUAL BIS-THF RING STRUCTURE, FROM XYLOPIA-AROMATICA (ANNONACEAE)

Our continuing activity-directed search for new bioactive compounds le d to the isolation of two new, unusual, acetogenins, aromin (1) and ar omicin (2), from the stem bark of Xylopia aromatica (Annonaceae). Both represent a new type of non-adjacent, bis-THF ring acetogenins (one T HF ring being at C-4 to C-7 and the other at C-16 to C-19). Both show significant cytotoxicities among six human tumor cell lines; however, the activity is notably reduced compared to other non-adjacent bis-THF ring acetogenins. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated by spectr oscopic methods and by derivatization.