This observation shows that trace amounts of optically active S-substituted [2.2]paracyclophane contaminants are not responsible for the CD of 1.(15) NSF-URP Fellow 1971.

A report by Kupchan et al.( 1) of antitumor activity in the leaves of Acer negando L. prompted the testing of Acer saccharinum L. (Aceraceae) for antitumor activity. An Et0H/H20 extract of the leaves of this plant inhibited B16 melanoma in mice, and isolation of the active material was carried out. The separation yielded methyl gallate (methyl-3,4,5-trihydroxy benzoate) as the active compound. Methyl gallate was tested against B16 melanoma in mice following standard protocols (2) yielding T/C values of 188% and 172% at 25 mg/kg, and testing against tumor cells in culture, again following standard protocols (2), gave the following results: B16 melanoma ID50 4.OX 10-5 M, L1210 ID;o 2.2X 10-5 M, and P388 ID50 2.8X 10-5 M. Finally, the compound was tested for inhibition of reverse transcriptase using the assay detailed by Kacian and Spiegelman (4) and was found to be inhibitory with an I50 of 4.80X 10~3 M.Methyl gallate occurs widely in the Aceraceae as well as other plant families. It has previously been reported to inhibit L1210 leukemia in vivo (3). Investigators should be aware that antitumor activity detected in random screening of plants may be due to this compound. The inhibition of reverse transcriptase by this compound is an observation that has not previously been reported. This is also the first report of its

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