An investigation of Witheringia coccoloboides (Dammer) A. T. Hunziker [Capsicum fuscoviolaceum (Cufodontis) Mort. And Standl.] roots has resulted in the isolation of two cytotoxic compounds: physalin B (1) and a novel physalin, which was characterized by spectral analysis as 25,26-epidihydrophysalin C (2). Both compounds have demonstrated cytotoxic activity in 9KB and 9PS tumor cells (in vitro). Physalin B (1) has demonstrated moderate activity against the 3PS mouse leukemia (in vivo).

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