a method for extracting antineoplastic component from bupleurum scorzonerifolium applicable in treating cell proliferative disorder is proposed . the antineoplastic components of bupleurum scorzonerifolium include at least a y - butyolactone centred heterocyclic compound with a z configuration or e configuration at its carbon 2 position , and molecules , such as chaihulactone , isochaihulactone , chaihulactone analogues or derivatives containing in the heterocyclic compound . from results of cell and molecular biological studies , in vivo animal test , and histological study , it is found that antineoplastic components extracted from bupleurum scorzonerifolium are effective in suppressing a variety of cancer cell growths , inhibiting telomerase activity , as well as effective in killing with high specificity taxol - resistant tumor cells at later stage of chemical therapy , making the components a new choice for anti - cancer agent , anti - hiv agent , or synergistic agent .