Jatropha gossypiifolia Euphorbiaceae

Phorbol and its Relatives.—Jatrophone (114) is a macrocyclic diterpenoid tumour-inhibitor which has been isolated from Jatropha gossypiifolia (Euphorbiaceae). The structure was proven by Z-ray analysis of a cyclization product obtained with HBr in glacial acetic acid. Bertyadional (115) has been isolated from a Bertya species n.m.r. studies defined a large fragment of the molecule. The trienedione, which was reduced with zinc and acetic acid, underwent an isomerization in hot aqueous pyridine in which the 4(10) double bond was shifted to the 1(2) position. 

The name jatrophane stems from Jatropha gossypiifolia (Euphorbiaceae) whieh was found to contain the antineoplastic and antileukemic (+)-jatrophone. Various differently substituted jatrophanes are isolated from Euphorbiaceae, such as the esulones from Euphorbia esula and the euphomines from E. helioscopia and E. maddeni. 

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