Antitumor Alkaloids from Cephalotaxus harringtonia: Structure and Activity

Cephalotaxine and several of its esters were isolated from Cephalotaxus harringtonia K. Koch var. harringtonia. Although cephalotaxine is inactive, harringtonine, isoharringtonine, homoharringtonine, and deoxyharringtonine have shown significant activity against experimental P388 leukemia and against L-1210 leukemia in mice.