A novel xanthene (1), blumeaxanthene II, was isolated from the aerial parts of Blumea riparia (Bl.) DC., a Chinese medicinal plant with hemostatic properties, and its structure was determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses. This compound is the first example of a halogenated xanthene from a natural plant, and a biosynthetic pathway was proposed. Blumeaxanthene II was also tested against Bel-7404 cells in vitro but was found to be only weakly cytotoxic.
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