Antitumor activity of the isodon diterpenoids: Structural requirements for the activity

A significant antitumor activity of oridonin (1) and lasiokaurin (2), the kaurene-type diterpenoids ofIsodon species, was shown by their i.p. injection to the test mice inoculated by Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. Enmein (8), compounds9 and3 were also active under larger dose. Subsequently, the relationship between their chemical structure and antitumor activity was investigated, and the activity of oridonin (1) and lasiokaurin (2) was rationalized in terms of their structural feature.