BIOACTIVE FURANONAPHTHOQUINONES FROM CRESCENTIA-CUJETE

Bioassay-directed fractionation of the MeCOEt extract of Crescentia cu jete (Bignonaceae) resulted in the isolation of -3-hydroxy-5,6-dimetho xydehydroiso-alpha-lapachone [1], (2R)-5,6-dimethoxydehydroiso-alpha-l apachone [2],(2R)-5-methoxydehydroiso-alpha-lapachone [3], 2-(1-hydrox yethyl)naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione [4], xy-2-(1-hydroxyethyl)naphtho [2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione [5],2-isopropenylnaphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione [6], and 5-hydroxydehydroiso-alpha-lapachone [7]. Compounds 1-3 are ne w, and all compounds are bioactive, showing selective activity towards DNA-repair-deficient yeast mutants. The isolation, structure elucidat ion, and biological activities of these compounds are reported.