<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>An exhaustive extraction model and a general adsorption chromatographic method involving a rapid stepgradient are described for the initial fractionation of weakly‐ and non‐polar fractions from <jats:italic>Chelidonium majus</jats:italic> L. Fractionation and purification of cytotoxic metabolites were directed by bioassay using the <jats:italic>Artemia salina</jats:italic> test.