NEW SESQUITERPENE LACTONE A OR B, AND ANTITUMOR AGENT CONTAINING ARTEMISIA ARGYI LEVL. ET VANT. COMPOSITAE EXTRACT OR SESQUITERPENE LACTONE A, B OR C AS ACTIVE INGREDIENT

摘要

PURPOSE:To provide a new sequiterpene lactone A or B having a remarkable antitumor effect, and capable of being used e.g. as a therapeutic medicine for leukemia and various solid tumors in the future. CONSTITUTION:Sesquiterpene lactone A or B of formula I or II. The compounds are obtained e.g. by extracting the leaf powder of Artemisia argyi Levl. et Vant, Composital with hot water and then with chloroform, and subsequently repeatedly applying the extract to an open column chromatography using one of various columns (e.g. silica gel column, negative phase column, gel filtration column) or to a liquid chromatography using a low or high pressure liquid- feeding pump. A sesquiterpene lactone C of formula III also has the same effect as those of the sesquiterpene lactones A and B.