Cytotoxic acylphenols from Myristica maingayi

From the cytotoxic AcOEt extract of the fruits of Myristica maingayi, a Myristicaceae, five new acylphenols (promalabaricones B and C, maingayic acids B and C, and maingayone) were isolated, together with the known malabaricones A-C. The structures were determined from spectral analysis, including mass spectrometry and 2D NMR. The cytotoxicity of the new compounds and that of malabaricones was assessed against KB cells. A biosynthetic pathway for malabaricones, via the corresponding promalabaricones as precursors, is suggested. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.