Studies of the Thymelaeaceae II. Antineoplastic Principles of Gnidia kraussiana

Abstract
The acetone and methanol extracts of G. kraussiana roots displayed activity against the P-388 [mouse] lymphocytic leukemia. Bioactivity-directed fractionation led to the isolation of 5 daphnane orthoesters, all possessing potent antineoplastic activity. Four of these isolates, gnidilatin, gnidilatidin, Excoecaria toxin and Pimelea factor P2 have been isolated previously from plants in the Thymelaeaceae and Euphorbiaceae. The 5th compound, kraussianin, is a new member of the macrocyclic daphnane orthoester series of compounds.