The present invention provides an erythropoietin expression promoter which can eliminate inhibition of erythropoietin production or promote erythropoietin production, and an anemia treatment/prevention agent, a hepatic function improvement agent, an ischemic damage improvement agent, a renal protective agent and an insulin secretion promoter that contain this erythropoietin expression promoter. This erythropoietin expression promoter is obtained from a substance that contains one or more compounds selected from among the group consisting of compounds represented by general formula (I), general formula (II) and general formula (III), and salts thereof which are pharmaceutically acceptable when R3 is OH.
