ANTICANCER ANTHRAQUINONES AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF

摘要

Anthraquinones are described which have anticancer or antitumor activity and which are useful for inhibiting cancer cells and cells comprising tumors in vitro or in vivo. Preferably, the anthraquinones have the chemical formula (1), wherein R1, is selected from the group consisting of to hydrogen, alkyl, and substituted alkyl; R2 is a group containing 1-12 carbons selected from the group consisting of alkyl, substituted alkyl, aldehyde, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, acid group, carbohydrate and combinations thereof; and R3 is a group containing 1 to 12 carbons selected from the group consisting of methyl, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aldehyde, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, acid group, carbohydrate, and combinations thereof. The preferred anthraquinones are 1-hydroxy-2-acetyl-3,6-methyl anthraquinone, 2­-acetyl-3,6-methyl anthraquinone monoacetate, 1­-hydroxy-2-acetyl-3,7-methyl anthraquinone, 2-acetyl-­3,7-methyl anthraquinone monoacetate, 1,2,8-­trihydroxy-3-methyl anthraquinone, 1,8-dihydroxy-2-0-­beta-D-glucopyranoside anthraquinone, 1,2,8-trihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl anthraquinone, and 1,8-dihydroxy-3-­carboxy anthraquinone.