QUINONE-METHIDE TRITERPENES AND SALASPERMIC ACID FROM KOKOONA-OCHRACEA

Tingenone [1], 20-hydroxy-20-epi-tingenone [2], celastrol[3], and sala spermic acid [4] have been isolated from Kokoona ochracea seem bark. T he quinone-methide triterpenes 1-3 exhibited strong but non-specific i n vitro cytotoxicity against P-388 murine lymphocytic leukemia cells a nd a panel of human cancer cell lines. Salaspermic acid [4] was not ac tive in all the cancer cell lines used in this investigation. C-13-nmr spectra assignments for salaspermic acid have been accomplished throu gh the application of 1D and 2D nmr spectral techniques, and C-13-nmr assignments for celastrol [3] have been revised.