Abstract
Diterpene esters exhibiting toxic, irritant, cocarcinogenic as well as antileukemic activities have been isolated from many Euphorbiaceae and Thymelaeaceae species. They contain the structurally closely related polycyclic skeletons of tigliane, daphnane and ingenane. They are being used in all facets of cancer research as both tumor promoters and inhibitors. They are also considered as second‐order carcinogenic risk factors in the etiology of human cancer. The authors review possible biosynthetic pathways for the plant diterpenes and discuss structural relationships in view of their biogenesis.

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