Combretastatin B-1

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Combretastatin B-1 is a natural chemical found in two South African trees, Combretum afrum and Combretum kraussii (the bushwillow family). It belongs to the combretastatin group and is a dihydrostilbenoid. In the lab, it can be produced by selectively hydrogenating combretastatin A-1. In cell studies, Combretastatin B-1 strongly inhibits the assembly of microtubules, which are essential for cell division, making it of interest for cancer research.