Abstract: The isolation of three new mono-tetrahydrofuran ring acetogenins from the bark of Annona squamosa is described. Each of these compounds bears a carbonyl group at the C-9 position and two hydroxyls that flank the tetrahydrofuran ring. These compounds exibit selective cytotoxic activity against certain specific human tumor cells.

Abstract: Novel acetogenins isolated from Annona squamosa of the family Annonaceae are described. The substantially pure acetogenins of the invention exhibit cytotoxicity to human tumor cell lines as well as selective cytotoxicity for various human tumor cell lines.

Abstract: Novel acetogenins isolated from Asimina triloba and Goniothalamus giganteus of the family Annonaceae and derivatives of those and other acetogenins are described. Bioactive cyclic formaldehyde acetal derivatives are prepared from Annonaceous acetogenins having 1,2-, 1,4- or 1,5-diols. A non-adjacent bis-tetrahydrofuran (THF) acetogenin is prepared from an unsaturated mono-THF acetogenin earlier isolated from Goniothalamus giganteus. The substantially pure acetogenins and acetogenin derivatives of the invention exhibit cytotoxicity to human solid tumor cell lines equipotent to adriamycin or orders of magnitude more potent than adriamycin, and they exhibit effective pesticidal activities.

Abstract: Novel acetogenins isolated from Asimina triloba and Goniothalamus giganteus of the family Annonaceae and derivatives of those and other acetogenins are described. Bioactive cyclic formaldehyde acetal derivatives are prepared from Annonaceous acetogenins having 1,2-, 1,4- or 1,5-diols. A non-adjacent bis-tetrahydrofuran(THF) acetogenin is prepared from an unsaturated mono-THF acetogenin earlier isolated from Goniothalamus giganteus. The substantially pure acetogenins and acetogenin derivatives of the invention exhibit cytotoxicity to human solid tumor cell lines equipotent to adriamycin or orders of magnitude more potent than adriamycin, and they exhibit effective pesticidal activities.

Abstract: Screening of crude extracts of the bark of Annona bullata Rich. (Annonaceae) showed cytotoxic and pesticidal activities. By monitoring with brine shrimp lethality, two novel extremely potent acetogenins, bullatacin (1) and bullatacinone (2), were isolated. Spectral and chemical methods identified bullatacin as a diastereomer of asimicin. Bullatacinone represents bullatacin with the lactone cleaved and reformed at the 4-OH. Unlike asimicin, which is more generally cytotoxic, 1 and 2 show some selective cytotoxicities in human tumor cell lines, and certain susceptible cells give ED.sub.50 values as low as 10.sup.-12 -10.sup.-15 mcg/ml. Bullatacin was pesticidal at concentration as low as 1 ppm, while bullatacinone lacked pesticidal activities.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuranoid acetogenins characteristic of the Annonaceae plant family have been found to have potent pesticidal and feeding deterrent activity against a diverse variety of pests such as mosquito larvae, spider mites, aphids, the Mexican bean beetle, striped cucumber beetle, blowfly larvae, and nematodes.

Abstract: Tetrahydrofuranoid acetogenins characteristic of the Annonaceae plant family have been found to have potent pesticidal and feeding deterrent activity against a diverse variety of pests such as mosquito larvae, spider mites, aphids, the Mexican bean beetle, striped cumcumber beetle, blowfly larvae, and nematodes.