Potential anticancer agents. IV. Constituents of Jacaranda caucana Pittier (Bignoniaceae).

An aqueous ethanol extract of Jacaranda caucana Pittier (Bignoniaceae) showed in vivo antitumor activity against the P-388 lymphocytic leukemia system. Fractionation, accompanied by monitoring for biological activity, afforded a novel phytoquinoid derivative jacaranone, which exhibited both in vivo antitumor and in vitro cytotoxic activity. beta-Sitosterol, betulinic acid, ursolic acid, 2alpha-hydroxyursolic acid, 2alpha,3alpha-dihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid and a new triterpene acid, jacarandic acid, were also isolated. The structure elucidation of jacarandic acid is described.