Ein Verfahren zur Isolierung 2-Deoxyecdysteron aus Zoanthus sp und ihre Verwendung zur Herstellung eines Medikaments zur Geburtseinleitung oder zum Schwangerschaftsabbruch

The invention provides a process for the isolation of 2-deoxy ecdysterone from Zoanthus sp. process comprising the steps (a) preparing crude methanol extract of Zoanthus sp., (b) subjecting the crude methanol extract to fractionation using petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, n-butanol and mixtures thereof to yield a fraction, (c) subjecting the active fraction to flash chromatography over silica gel to obtain partially purified active compound, and (d) subjecting the active subfraction obtained from step (c) above to gel permeation chromatography to obtain the active pure compound. The invention also concerns the use of 2-deoxy ecdysterone for the preparation of a medicament for the induction of labour or the interruption of pregnancy.