The benzanthrins, which were produced by Nocardia lurida, were extracted from the fermentation broth with CH2Cl2. Subsequent purification on Sephadex LH-20 and diolbonded silica gel, followed by countercurrent chromatography, afforded analytically pure benzanthrins A and B. FAB-MS revealed that benzanthrins A and B were isomeric. It was demonstrated through degradative and spectroscopic studies that the benzanthrins were di-glycosides of a trihydroxy benz[a]anthraquinone chromophore where one of the sugars was linked through carbon and the other through oxygen. Benzanthrins A and B differed in the stereochemistry of the O-glycosidic sugar. Both compounds inhibited the growth of Gram-positive bacteria and 9KB, 9PS and 9ASK tumor cells in tissue culture.