A lichen substance as an antiproliferative compound against HL-60 human leukemia cells: 16-O-acetyl-leucotylic acid isolated from Myelochroa aurulenta.

The lichen substance, 16-O-acetyl-leucotylic acid (1), was isolated from an acetone extract of Myelochroa aurulenta and found to exhibit antiproliferative activity against HL-60 human leukemia cells. This is the first report on its anti-leukemia activity (EC(50)=21 microM) which is greater than that of leucotylic acid (2) and the structurally related anti-tumor agent, betulinic acid (4).