Cetoniacytone A is a secondary metabolite classified in the family of C7N aminocyclitols which include other natural products such as validamycin A, acarbose, and epoxyquinomicin.

(strain Lu 9419), an endosymbiotic Gram-positive bacillus found in the intestines of a rose chafer (Cetonia aureata).

[2] Preliminary feeding studies with [U-13C3]glycerol identified the core moiety, cetoniacytone, to be derived via the pentose phosphate pathway.

Although agar plate diffusion assay studies of cetoniacytone A showed no antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, cetoniacytone A has demonstrated a significant growth inhibitory effect against human cancer cell lines including hepatocellular carcinoma (HEP G2) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF 7).

[2][3] Feeding experiments conducted by Zeeck and co-workers established the synthesis of cetoniacytone A to proceed via the pentose phosphate pathway with sedoheptulose 7-phosphate as the key intermediate.