Constituents and cytotoxic principles of Nothapodytes foetida.

A new naturally occurring alkaloid, acetylcamptothecin, together with 17 known compounds, (+)-1-hydroxypinoresinol, omega-hydroxypropioguaiacone, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, scopoletin, uracil, thymine, sitosterol, sitosteryl-beta-D-glucoside, 3 beta-hydroxy-stigmast-5-en-7-one, stigmast-5-en-3 beta,7 alpha-diol, 6 beta-hydroxystigmast-4-en-3-one, sitost-4-en-3-one, linoleic acid, trigonelline, camptothecin, 9-O-methoxycamptothecin and pumiloside were isolated and characterized from the stem of Nothapodytes foetida. Among them, scopoletin, camptothecin, 9-O-methoxycamptothecin and O-acetylcamptothecin showed significant cytotoxic activity.