Cytotoxic arylnaphthalide lignan glycosides from the aerial parts of Phyllanthus taxodiifolius.

The arylnaphthalide lignan glycosides, taxodiifoloside, cleistanthoside A, cleistanthin A and cleistanthin A methyl ether, together with a triterpene, glochidone, have been isolated from the aerial parts of Phyllanthus taxodiifolius. The structures were established using spectral and chemical methods. Compounds and, as well as the derivatives and exhibited potent cytotoxic activities with GI50 values in the range of 10(-7)-10(-9) M in five cultured mammalian cancer cell lines while the new compound showed moderate activity (GI50 in the order of 10(-6) M). Compounds and were inactive in all tested cell lines.