Herbimycin C is a minor analogue of herbimycin complex isolated from Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Herbimycin C possesses potent antitumor activity and has been shown to convert Rous sarcoma virus- infected rat kidney cells into normal cells. Research on related metabolites, herbimycin A and geldanamycin has stimulated intensive interest in this class as selective antitumor agents and for the prolonging the viability of tissue-cultured cells and organs.
