Des-O-methylolivoretin C is a new member of the teleocidin class of tumor promoters

: Des-O-methylolivoretin C, a demethylated form of olivoretin C, is a naturally occurring compound in Streptomyces mediocidicus and Streptoverticillium olivoreticuli. Des-O-methylolivoretin C is a regioisomer of teleocidin B, which has the same activity as teleocidin. The tumor-promoting activity of des-O-methylolivoretin C was studied in a two-stage carcinogenesis experiment on mouse skin in comparison with that of teleocidin. Treatments with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) plus des-O-methylolivoretin C and DMBA plus teleocidin induced tumors in 63.3% and 84.6% of the mice, respectively, in week 30. The difference in the tumor-promoting activities of des-O-methylolivoretin C and teleocidin is presumably related to the regioisomeric difference in the cyclohexene ring.