化学成分根含有蒽醌甙类成分:2-甲基-1,3,6-三羟基-9,10-蒽醌-3-O-(6′-O-乙酰基)-α-L-鼠李糖基 (1→2)-β-D-葡萄糖甙[2-methyl-1,3,6-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone-3-O-(6′-O-acetyl)-α-L-rhamnosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucoside],2-甲基-1,3,6-三羟基-9,10-蒽醌-3-α-L-鼠李糖基)(1→2)-β-D-葡萄糖甙[2-methyl-1,3,6-trihydroxy-9,10-anthraquinone-3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl(1→2)-β-D-glucoside],2-甲基-1,6-二羟基蒽醌-3-O-(6′-O-乙酰基)-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖基(1→2)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙[2-methyl-1,6-dihy-droxyanthraquinone-3-O-(6′-O-acetyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside],2-甲基-1,6-二羟基蒽醌-3-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖基(1→2)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙[2-methyl-1,6-dihydroxyan-thraquinone-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosi-de]。还含茜根本能(ruberythric acid);三个乔木烷型三萜(arbo-rane type triterpenoid)成分:茜草乔木醇(rubiarbonol)A、G,茜草乔木酮(rubiarbonone)A。另含一个搞癌活性的新成分,命名为环已肽甙(glycocyclohexapeptide)RY-1及其甙元RA-V。