Cytocidal Principles of Magnolia Denudata

A CHC13 extract of the root bark of Magnolia denudata showed strong cytocidal activity and through fractionation of the extract monitored by cytocidal activity test using P388 leukemia cells, parthenolide and costunolide were isolated as active principles. Three phenyl-propanoids (myristicine aldehyde, trans-isomyristicine and deacyllaserine) and four lignans (sesamin, kobusin, eudesmin and pinoresinol) were also isolated. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of deacyllaserine. Myristicine aldehyde and trans-isomyristicine were isolated from the Magnoliaceae for the first time and parthenolide, costunolide and four lignans were isolated from M. denudata for the first time.