Amabiose, a new disaccharide derivative with a novel skeleton, was isolated from the rhizomes of Hemsleya amabilis. Its structure was condensed from a glucose and a hemslose, which was elucidated unambiguously by spectroscopic means and chemical reaction, including 2D NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis.

Hemsleyaamabilis extract is derived from the medicinal herb Hemsleyaamabilis, which has long been used to treat cancer and many other conditions. The underlying mechanism is not clear. To investigate Hemsleya amabili's anticancer activity, we have treated different types of cancer cells including human astrocytoma U87 cells, breast cancer cells MDA-MB-231and Jurkat cells with Hemsleyaamabilis extract. This agent significantly inhibited tumor cell growth and colony formation at various concentrations. When astrocytoma cells were seeded in the presence of Hemsleyaamabilis extract at very low concentrations, cell spreading was greatly inhibited.