Homoharringtonine is an alkaloid obtained from Taxus triterpeneae or its homogensis. It had inhibitory effect on the incorporation of protein of 3H-labeled asparagine, and also on the incorporation of DNA of 3H-labeled thymine nucleoside. It can also induce cell differentiation, increase the content of cAMP, and inhibit glycoprotein synthesis.

Homoharringtonine (HHT) is an alkaloid isolated from the total alkaloid of Torreya grandis. It is a highly effective anti-tumor drug successfully developed in China. It has been clinically proven to be effective in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), Chemicalbook (AML), erythrocyte leukemia (CML) and other acute non-lymphocytic leukemia (AML) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). However, it is highly cytotoxic and can also lead to cardiotoxicity and myelosuppression, limiting the increase of chemotherapy dose.
It is mainly used in the treatment of acute non-lymphocytic leukemia