Steganotaenia araliacea

This lactone derives from the shikimic acid-cinnamic acid pathway, via oxidative dimerization of coniferyl alcohol. Whereas the presence of yatein itself was not detected in the plants producing steganes, presteganes A and B were isolated in Steganotaenia araliaceae and constitute therefore viable biogenetic precursors [82,83]. 

The discovery of antileukemic activity possessed by the lactones isolated from Steganotaenia araliaceae (164) has prompted considerable efforts directed towards their synthesis. These have recently been admirably reviewed (165). 

M Taafrout, F Roussac, IP Robin, RP Hicks, DD Shillady, AT Sneden. Neoisostegane, a new bisbenzoylcyclooctadiene lignan lactone from Steganotaenia araliacea. J Nat Prod 47 600-606, 1984. 

Among lignans, an illustrative example is steganacin (3), a constituent of Steganotaenia araliacea, the respective synthetic target of several scientific papers, which possesses a significant antileukemic activity [4],... 

One of the most interesting compounds characterised by Kupchan in the 1970s is the lignan (-)-steganone, isolated from Steganotaenia araliacea. Its interest derives not only from its antileukaemic properties, but also from its axial chirality, which is rare among natural products. 

Hicks R P, Sneden A T 1983 Neoisostegane, a new bisbenzocyclooctadiene lignan lactone from Steganotaenia araliacea Hochst. Tetrahedron Lett 24 2987 - 2990... 

Taafrout M, Rouessac F, Robin J 1983 Prestegane A, from Steganotaenia araliacea Hochst. The first natural dibenzylbutanolide with a meta-phenol. Tetrahedron Lett 24 3237-3238... 

Other lignans with known antitumor properties are (+)-wikstromol 90 isolated from Wikstroemia foetida var. oahuensis Gray (Thymelaeaceae) (92) and (-)-burseran 91 from Bur sera microphylla (Burseraceae) (93). (-)-Steganacin 92 and (-)-steganangin 93, isolated from Steganotaenia araliacea stem bark and wood, exhibit antileukemic activity in the in vivo murine P-388 lymphocytic leukemia test system (43). 

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