Myrocin C, a new diterpene antitumor antibiotic from Myrothecium verrucaria. I. Taxonomy of the producing strain, fermentation, isolation and biological properties.

A new diterpene antitumor antibiotic, myrocin C, has been isolated from the culture filtrate of a soil fungus, Myrothecium verrucaria strain No. 55. The antibiotic was effective against Gram-positive bacteria, fungi and yeasts, and prolonged the life span of mice bearing Ehrlich ascites carcinoma.