2-Hydroxyanthraquinone is a pigment originally reported from the roots of Oldenlandia umbellate and subsequently found to be produced by Streptomyces spp. 2-Hydroxyanthraquinone is potently active against Gram negative bacteria, including clinical isolates of E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. 2-Hydroxyanthraquinone is active against the fungi C. albicans, A. flavus and M. pachydermatis and shows moderate cytotoxic activity in vitro against A549 lung and COLO320 cells.