title: Dioscorealides and dioscoreanone, novel cytotoxic naphthofuranoxepins, and 1,4-phenanthraquinone from Dioscorea membranacea Pierre.
abstract: [structure: see text] Commonly used among ingredients in Thai traditional anticancer preparations, the rhizome of Dioscorea membranacea Pierre was found potently cytotoxic and possibly contributed to such a therapeutic effect. Bioassay-guided isolation resulted in two novel cytotoxic naphthofuranoxepins, dioscorealides A (1) and B (2), and a new 1,4-phenanthraquinone, dioscoreanone (3). The structure determination, achieved mainly by means of NMR and CD spectral and X-ray crystallographic analyses, and cytotoxicity are discussed here.
authors.affiliation: Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacy, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford St., London SEI 8WA, UK.
authors.forename: Arunporn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Itharat
authors.forename: Anuchit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plubrukarn
authors.forename: Palangpon
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kongsaeree
authors.forename: Tam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bui
authors.forename: Niwat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Keawpradub
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Houghton