Activity-guided fractionation of the roots of Anthriscus sylvestris resulte
d in the isolation and characterization of five cytotoxic compounds, deoxyp
odophyllotoxin (1), falcarindiol (2), and angeloyl podophyllotoxin (5) from
the hexane soluble fraction and morelensin (3), bursehernin (4) from the c
hloroform soluble fraction. tt is the first report of the occurrence of com
pound 5 in nature.