TUMOR-INHIBITORY ARYLTETRALIN LIGNANS IN PODOPHYLLUM-VERSIPELLE, DIPHYLLEIA-CYMOSA AND DIPHYLLEIA-GRAYI

Roots/rhizome of Podophyllum versipelle contain eight aryltetralin lignans: podophyllotoxin, desoxypodophyllotoxin, β-peltatin, podophyllotoxone, and the four corresponding 4′-demethyl derivatives, together with O-glucosides of podophyllotoxin, 4′-demethylpodophyllotoxin, β-peltatin and α-peltatin. β-Peltatin is the major constituent (1.4%), and while the podophyllotoxin content (0.32%) is higher than that of P. peltatum (0.25%), it is considerably inferior to that of P. hexandrum (4.3%). Roots and leaves of Diphylleia cymosa and D. grayi also contain Podophyllum lignans and their O-glucosides, together with the arylnaphthalene lignan diphyllin. Lignan patterns in Diphylleia roots are markedly different from those in the leaves. The podophyllotoxin content of D. grayi root is high (1.3%), whilst only small amounts are found in D. cymosa roots which accumulate β-peltatin instead. The leaves of D. cymosa contain relatively high levels of podophyllotoxin (0.54%), 4′-demethylpodophyllotoxin (0.10%), 4′-demethyldesoxypodophyllotoxin (0.11%) and diphyllin (0.13%), and are potentially a good alternative source of lignans for drug use. © 1990.