An-Najah Staff

In the search for anti tumor activity large numbers of amethylene -y-butyro-lactones have been tested and some of these include; Eapachiorim, Eapacunin, helanalin, vemomenin, Elephantopin and vernolepin, all these are of plant origin and have been tested and found to have some cytotoxic activity. However, It has been suggested that the chemical combination of u-methylene lactones with a steroidal or hormonal carriers moiety could provide a mean of obtaining chemotheraputic agents which might be tumor site specific for breast or prostatic cancer. A number of biologically active steioidal a - itiethylene lactones and their structural activities will be discussed.