CONSTITUENTS AND CYTOTOXIC PRINCIPLES OF NOTHAPODYTES FOETIDA

A new naturally occurring alkaloid, acetylcamptothecin, together with 17 known compounds, (+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol, omega-hydroxypropioguaia cone, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, scopoletin, uracil, thymine, sitosterol, sitosteryl-beta-D-glucoside, 3 beta-hydroxy-stigmast-5-en-7-one, stigm ast-5-en-3 beta,7 alpha-diol, 6 beta-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one, sitos t-4-en-3-one, linoleic acid, trigonelline, camptothecin, 9-O-methoxyca mptothecin and pumiloside were isolated and characterized from the ste m of Nothapodytes-foetida. Among them, scopoletin, camptothecin, 9-O-m ethoxycamptothecin and O-acetylcamptothecin showed significant cytotox ic activity.