A STUDY ON CYTOTOXIC PRINCIPLES OF SELECTED ANNONACEAE SPECIES

Abstract

Objectives The objective of this thesis is to study the cytotoxic principles in some selected Annonaceae species cultivated in Egypt. This thesis contains a review of literature and four exprimental parts. Review of Literature: This part covers extensively the chemical nature stereochemistry, isolation techniques, distribution and cytotoxic activity, of acetogenins in annonaceous plants. A literature searching has been carried out in plants possessing cytotoxic/atitumor activity, particulary, those belonging to family Annonaceae. This survey clarifies that acetogenins, a class of polyketides discovered in 1982, are important natural products due to their potent cytotoxic/ antitumor activity. On this background four plants belonging to family Annonaceae have been selected for their possible cytotoxic activty.