An investigation of the antitumor activity of Sesbania drummondii.

Extracts of Sesbania drummondii (Rydb.) Cory seed are active in vivo in the P-388 lymphocytic leukemia system and cytotoxic in the KB assay. Systematic fractionation of S. drummondii has yielded sesbanine (1), a novel spirocyclic alkaloid based on the 2,7-naphthyridine nucleus, and drummondol (2), a new abscisic acid (5) metabolite. Sesbanine and drummondol are present in highly cytotoxic fractions; however, these purified compounds are essentially devoid of antitumor activity