Abstract |
The present invention relates to an antihelminthic composition which comprises: (a) at least one anthraquinone of the formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, halogen, RJ or is methyl, Rl acetoxy, COOH, O-β-D-glucopyranoside, and R2 -O-malonyl-(I-+6 O-β-D-glucopyranoside groups, R is selected from the group consisting of methyl, hydroxy, hydroxymethyl, COOH, and methyl-O- β -D- glucopyranoside groups, and the halogen is selected from the group consisting of I, F, Br, and CI, but not 1,2,8-trihydroxy-3-methyl anthraquinone or 1,8-hydroxy-3-R- anthraquinone where R is methyl, hydroxyl, hydroxymethyl or COOH; and (b) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the composition contains between about 1 and 1,000 micrograms of the anthraquinone per milliliter or gram of the carrier. |