A sesquiterpenoid, exhibiting in vitro activity against fungi, some bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis 607. Isoln from roots of Plumeria multiflora Muell.-Arg., Apocynaceae, also from roots of P. rubra var. alba: J. E. Little, D. B. Johnstone, Arch. Biochem. 30, 445 (1951); from Allamanda cathartica Linn., Apocynaceae: B. R. Pai et al., Indian J. Chem. 8, 851 (1970). Structure, physical properties and IR, 1HNMR spectra: G. Albers-Sch"onberg, H. Schmid, Helv. Chim. Acta 44, 1447 (1961). Synthetic approach: J. K. Whitesell et al., Synth. Commun. 7, 355 (1977). Biomimetic total synthesis of (±)-form: B. M. Trost et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 105, 6755 (1983); eidem, ibid. 108, 4974 (1986). Alternate synthesis of (±)-form: eidem, ibid. 4965; K. E. B. Parkes, G. Pattenden, J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans. 1 1988, 1119.