Constituents of Egyptian Euphorbiaceae. IX. Irritant and cytotoxic ingenane esters from Euphorbia paralias L.

The irritant and cytotoxic constituents of the latex of Euphorbia paralias L. were separated from the hydrocarbon fraction by means of solvent partition. 3 new ingenane esters were identified from the toxic ether fraction. The major compound was 3-angelyl-20-deoxyingenol and the 2 minor compounds were 3-hexanoyl-20-deoxyingenol and 3-angelyl-ingenol. These compounds were of a similar potency to podophyllin in the inhibition of 3H-thymidine uptake by TLX/5 mouse lymphoma cells. In addition the compounds produced a persistent erythema of the mouse ear in sub-microgram doses.