Six　pigments　were　separated　from　Monascus　product,　and　some　derivatives　were　chemically　synthesized.　The　cytotoxicity　of　different　Monascus　pigments　to　various　human　cancer　cells　(SH-SY5Y,　HepG2,　HT-29,　BGC-823,　AGS,　and　MKN45)　was　evaluated.　Rubropunctatin　showed　the　greatest　anticancer　effect　within　the　tested　compounds.　The　inhibition　effect　of　rubropunctatin　was　higher　than　that　of　taxol　on　the　growth　of　the　human　gastric　cancer　cell　SH-SY5Y　(P　2H4　in　the　side　chain　showed　little　influence.　Rubropunctatin　could　be　supplied　as　a　precursor　compound　in　the　development　of　a　new　natural　anticancer　reagent.　©　2010　American　Chemical　Society.