부산대학교 도서관

Nature continues to be a rich source of bio-active compounds that often provide the lead for drug development. Isolation and characterization of maoecrystal V, a C19 terpenoid, having potent and selective cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells was recently reported. Unusually complex pentacyclic molecular structure, presence of spirofused rings and several stereogenic centres posed a great synthetic challenge. In this short review, efforts made towards synthesis of maoecrystal V are presented.Graphical AbstractMaoecrystal V, a highly unusual C-19 terpenoid isolated from Isodon eriocalyx (Dunn.) Hara, has stimulated intense interest by virtue of its highly complex molecular structure and remarkable inhibitory activity towards HeLa cells. This review provides a summary of the efforts made towards synthesis of maoecrystal V.