Cytostatic activity of Achillea ageratum L.

The cytostatic activity of a chloroform extract and two isolated compounds from Achillea ageratum L. (Asteraceae) was determined in vitro against Hep-2 and McCoy cells. The chloroform extract exhibited a high degree of growth inhibition compared with the values obtained with the 6-mercaptopurine (positive control) against both cultures. Stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol, isolated from the chloroform extract, showed a high degree of growth inhibition. Copyright 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.