4'-Demethylpodophyllotoxin is a lignan that has been found in D. versipellis and has microtubule assembly inhibitory and anticancer activities.1,2 It inhibits the assembly of isolated chicken brain tubulin (IC50 = 0.5 ?M) and the proliferation of LNCaP and PC3 prostate cancer cells (IC50s = 0.056 and 0.082 ?M, respectively).
1.Loike, J.D., Brewer, C.F., Sternlicht, H., et al.Structure-activity study of the inhibition of microtubule assembly in vitro by podophyllotoxin and its congenersCancer Res.38(9)2688-2693(1978) 2.Jiang, R.-W., Zhou, J.-R., Hon, P.-M., et al.Lignans from Dysosma versipellis with inhibitory effects on prostate cancer cell linesJ. Nat. Prod.70(2)283-286(2007)