Preparation and use of bouvardin and deoxybouvardin

Purified deoxybouvardin having a purity such that it is more than 90 percent free of all materials naturally associated therewith within Bouvardia ternifolia tissue.

A purified mixture of bouvardin and deoxybouvardin, the purity of said mixture being such that it is more than 90 percent free of all materials naturally associated therewith within Bouvardia ternifolia tissue.

A method for isolation of purified bouvardin and purified deoxybouvardin from Bouvardia ternifolia tissue, said method comprising:

• (a) forming a crude, isopropyl ether-insoluble precipitate of bouvardin and deoxybouvardin by serial solvent extraction of Bouvardia ternifolia tissue with methanol, acetonitrile, dichloromethane, followed by precipitation of the final extract with isopropyl ether;
• (b) chromatographically separating and isolating a purified mixture of bouvardin and deoxybouvardin from said precipitate, the purity of said mixture being such that it is more than 90 percent free of all materials naturally associated therewith within said Bouvardia ternifolia tissue.

A method for treatment of a rodent subject to a neoplastic disease, said method comprising administering to said animal from about 0.01 to about 10.0 mg/kg of a compound selected from the group consisting of purified bouvardin, purified deoxybouvardin, or purified mixtures thereof with each other, the purity of said compound or mixture being such that it is more than 90 percent free of all materials naturally associated therewith within Bouvardia ternifolia tissue.

A pharmaceutical composition for use in treatment of a rodent subject to a neoplastic disease, said composition consisting of a therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of purified bouvardin, purified deoxybouvardin, or purified mixtures thereof with each other, as an active ingredient, in combination with a pharmaceutically effective diluent, adjuvant or carrier, the purity of said compound or mixture being such that it is more than 90 percent free of all materials naturally associated therewith within Bouvardia ternifolia tissue.