• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.274-278
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• 2004

Four anthraquinone derivatives were isolated from the root of Rumex japonicus Houtt. These compounds were identified as physcion, emodin, chrysophanol-10,10'-bianthrone and $physcion-10,10'-bianthrone^(a)$, respectively. The last compound (a), especially, showed strong activity against A549, PC-3, UO-31 and HCT-15 human cancer cell lines with $IC_{50}$ values, ranging from 0.45 to $1.33\;{\mu}g/ml^{-1})$.