Disclosed is a medical composition for inducing differentiation of leukemic cells, which can induce leukemic cells to differentiate into monocytes and macrophages, and block the abnormal proliferation of leukemic cells through a PKC-independent pathway. In addition, the medical composition cans also downregulate c-myc gene expression in the leukemic cells, and upnregulate c-fms, c-fos and c-jun gene. The medical composition comprises a compound represented by the general formula (I) shown below: wherein R1, R2, and R3 represent —H, a linear or branched alkyl group with 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R4 represents —H or a benzyl group.