N-Benzoyl-12-nitrodehydroabietylamine-7-one, a novel dehydroabietylamine derivative, induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation in HepG2 cells

► We investigated the antitumor activities of 73 dehydroabietylamine derivatives. ► We explored the structure-antitumor activity relationship of 73 compounds. ► We identified a novel dehydroabietylamine derivative as a potential antitumor agent. ► Compound 81 can induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in HepG2 cells.