Antineoplastic agents. 41. The beetle Allomyrina dichotomus.

The Asian beetle Allomyrina dichotomus L. has been found to contain an antineoplastic agent. The substance responsible for this biological activity was located primarily in the beetle's legs and isolation guided by bioassay led to its characterization as a protein of at least 106 amino acid units. The protein was found to inhibit(64% at 3 mg/kg) growth of Walker intramuscular carcinosarcoma 256 in rats and was marginally active against P388 lymphocytic leukemia in mice.