Bostrycin is an anthraquinone originally isolated from B. alpestre that has diverse biological activities, including antibacterial, antiproliferative, and phytotoxic properties. It is active against Gram-positive bacteria, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), M. tuberculosis, and C. botulinum. Bostrycin inhibits proliferation of A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells when used at concentrations ranging from 10 to 30 µM, as well as halts the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase and induces apoptosis in A549 cells. It is a phytotoxin that induces necrosis of water hyacinth leaves when used at a concentration of approximately 7 µg/ml. Bostrycin has been used as a cross-linking agent for protein immobilization that retains bacteriostatic activity when immobilized on nonwoven polypropylene fabric.