The effect of the phytoalexins, lubimin, (-)-maackiain, pinosylvin, and the related compounds dehydroloroglossol and hordatine M on human lymphoblastoid cell lines.

We have tested the effect of the phytoalexins lubimin, (-)-maackiain and pinosylvin and the related compounds dehydroloroglossol and hordatine M on the growth of the human lymphoblastoid cell lines Molt and Raji. (-)-maackiain, pinosylvin and dehydroloroglossol showed significant growth inhibitory action on the cells. Suppression of [3H] thymidine and [3H] leucine uptake was tested and noted in pinosylvin and dehydroloroglossol. The phytoalexins and related compounds are widespread in plants and provide a potential source of antineoplastic substances.