ABSTRACT
Polyacetylenes belong to a class of molecules containing two or more triple bonds and constitute a distinct group of relatively unstable, reactive, and bioactive natural products. They are found in plants, fungi, microorganisms, and marine invertebrates.1-8 Polyacetylenes are common among higher plants, wherein they occur regularly in seven families, namely Apiaceae (formerly Umbelliferae), Araliaceae, Asteraceae (formerly Compositae), Campanulaceae, Olacaceae, Pittosporaceae, and Santalaceae, and sporadically in further eight plant families.5,7-12 Several families of the lower plants (e.g., some fungi families within Basidiomycetes) are also frequent producers of polyacetylenes.1
