CYTOTOXIC LIMONOIDS FROM MELIA AZEDARACH VAR JAPONICA

Bioassay-guided chemical investigation of the stem bark of Melia azeda rach var. Japonica has led to a new limonoid, 12-hydroxyamoorastatone along with two known limonoids 12-hydroxyamoorastatin and 12-acetoxyam oorastatin. The structure of the new compound followed from spectral d ata and the stereochemistry was determined by NOE experiment on the di -p-bromobenzoate. All three compounds exhibited significant cytotoxici tes against five human tumour cell lines.