ANTINEOPLASTIC AGENTS .301. AN INVESTIGATION OF THE AMARYLLIDACEAE GENUS HYMENOCALLIS

Seven species (and one cultivated variety) of Hymenocallis (Amaryllida ceae) and the related Pancratium maritima, representing a broad geogra phical selection, were investigated as sources of pancracistatin [1] n ow undergoing preclinical development as an anticancer agent. Pancrati statin [1] was found to be a constituent of H, speciosa (Singapore), H , variegated (Singapore), H. pedalis (Seychelles), H, expansa (Bermuda ), H. sonoranensis (Mexico), and P. maritimum (Israel). Only two speci es of Hymenocallis failed to yield one or more of the related cell-gro wth inhibitory isocarbostyrils such as narciclasine [3a], 7-deoxynarci clasine [3b], and 7-deoxy-trans-dihydronarciclasine [2].