佛波酯（phorbol esters）是一类能促进肿瘤生长的有机化合物，有时会被使用在生物学实验当中，作为二酰甘油的类似物，激活蛋白激酶C（protein kinase c）。由于佛波酯很难被代谢掉，因此这种激活作用是持续性的，将最终导致细胞的癌变。

佛波肉荳蔻醋酸（phorbol myristoyl acetate；PMA）是其中较常见的一种。

Phorbol is a natural, plant-derived organic compound. It is a member of the tigliane family of diterpenes. Phorbol was first isolated in 1934 as the hydrolysis product of croton oil, which is derived from the seeds of the purging croton, Croton tiglium. The structure of phorbol was determined in 1967. Phorbol is identified as the active constituent of the highly toxic New World tropical manchineel or 'beach apple' Hippomane mancinella. It is very soluble in most polar organic solvents, as well as in water. In the manchineel, this leads to an additional exposure risk during rain, where liquid splashing from an undamaged tree may also be injurious.