Patent ID: 6875746

Claim:
A method for inhibiting growth of cells of a cancer or a tumor, which comprises: exposing the cells to one or more anthraquinones with the chemical formula: wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, and acetyl; R 2 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, acetyl hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl, and carbohydrate groups; R 3 is selected from the group consisting of methyl, hydroxymethyl, carbohydrate, each of these R 3 containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and hydroxyl groups, and R 4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl, but not an anthraquinone wherein R 1 is hydrogen, R 2 is hydroxyl, R 3 is methyl, R 4 is hydrogen, in an amount sufficient to inhibit growth of the cells.