Ohioensins and pallidisetins: novel cytotoxic agents from the moss Polytrichum pallidisetum.

Bioassay-directed fractionation of an EtOH extract of the moss Polytrichum pallidisetum (Polytrichaceae) led to the isolation of three novel benzonaphthoxanthenones, 1-O-methylohioensin B [6], 1-O-methyldihydroohioensin B [7] and 1,14-di-O-methyldihydroohioensin B [8], and two novel cinnamoyl bibenzyls, pallidisetin A [9] and pallidisetin B [10]. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were established by spectral analyses and chemical correlation. Compounds 6-10 exhibited cytotoxic activity against the human tumor cell lines RPMI-7951 melanoma and U-251 glioblastoma multiforme. These two types of compounds could hypothetically be derived from cinnamic acid and bibenzyls through different biogenetic pathways.