[Derivatives of arteannuin B with antileukemia activity].

Arteannuin B (I) was converted to hydroxy lactones (VII, VIII) by a mixture of formic acid and sulfuric acid. Compound VI and Compound VII both showed activity against leukemia P 388 cell in vitro. The rate of growth inhibition were 97.5% and 11.8% for (VI) and 80% and 52.6% for (VII) at the concentration of 10 and 1 micrograms/ml respectively. It seems that the antileukemia activity of 6-membered lactone is higher than that of 5-membered and the methylene group is necessary for the antileukemia activity.