Novel compounds such as compounds designated herein as Xanifolia-Y or -Y3, -Y1, -Y2, -Y8, -Y9 and -Y10 are disclosed. These compounds have anticancer activity. The compounds of the present invention are obtainable from plants in the sapindaceae family, such as Xanthoceras sorbifolia, or other natural sources or products. The compounds of the present invention may also be synthesized chemically ##STR00001## ##STR00002## ##STR00003##