The dichloromethane extract of leaves of Croton zambesicus (Euphorbiaceae) showing in vitro cytotoxicity against human cervix carcinoma cells was investigated in order to identify its active compounds. A bio-guided fractionation by HSCCC followed by MPLC led us to isolate a trachylobane diterpene, ent-trachyloban-3beta-ol, with cytotoxic properties (IC50 on HeLa cells = 7.3 mug/ml). This is the first report on the cytotoxicity of a trachylobane diterpene.
Block, S., Stevigny, C., De Pauw-Gillet, M.-C., de Hoffmann, E., Llabrees, G., Adjakidje, V., & Quetin-Leclercq, J. (2002). ent-Trachyloban-3 beta-ol, a new cytotoxic diterpene from Croton zambesicus. Planta Medica : natural products and medicinal plant research, 68(7), 647-649. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2002-32903 (Original work published 2002)