The crude bark extract of Zanthoxylum setulosum from Monteverde, Costa Rica was notably cytotoxic (100% kill at 100 microg/mL) to MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-468 cells in vitro. Phytochemical studies of the bark extract revealed the triterpenoid lupeol, the lignan sesamin, the sesquiterpene sesquichamaenol, and the xanthone lichexanthone. This is the first report of the isolation of sesquichamaenol and lichexanthone from the bark extract of Z. setulosum. All structures were determined using NMR spectroscopic techniques (1H NMR and 13 degrees C NMR) and GC-MS and by comparison with literature data. Lupeol proved to be the cytotoxic component of Z. setulosum bark.
