*Alkaloids ; *Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; Chemistry ; *Harringtonines

The tirucallane-type triterpenoids, composed of six isoprene units, belong to a group of tetracyclic triterpenoids. Although the naturally-derived tirucallane-type triterpenoids were found in a small amount, the kind of compounds showed various structures, which consist of apo-type, linear said-chain-type and cyclolike said-chain-type and broad bioactivities, such as cytotoxicity, anti-inflammation, antioxidation and anti-plasmin, etc. This paper summarized origins, structures and bioactivities of tirucallane-type triterpenoids in recent ten years. The future research and exploration of tirucallane-type triterpenoids were discussed and prospected.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; Molecular Structure ; Triterpenes

Alkaloids ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; Chemical Phenomena ; Chemistry ; Harringtonines

Paclitaxel, a tetracyclic diterpenoid compounds, was firstly isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew trees. Currently, as a low toxicity, high efficiency, and broad-spectrum natural anti-cancer drug, paclitaxel has been widely used against ovarian cancer, breast cancer, uterine cancer, and other cancers. As the matter of fact, natural paclitaxel from Taxus species has been proved to be environmentally unsustainable and economically unfeasible. For this reason, researchers from all over the world are devoted to searching for new ways of obtaining paclitaxel. At present, other methods, including artificial cultivation of Taxus plants, microbial fermentation, chemical synthesis, tissue and cell culture have been sought and developed subsequently. Meanwhile, the biosynthesis of paclitaxel is also an extremely attractive method. Unlike other anti-cancer drugs, paclitaxel has its unique anti-cancer mechanisms. Here, the source, production, and anti-cancer mechanisms of paclitaxel were summarized and reviewed, which can provide theoretical basis and reference for further research on the production, anti-cancer mechanisms and utilization of paclitaxel.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Paclitaxel/pharmacology*

Steroidal saponins have a wide range of pharmacological effects and biological activities, such as anti-tumor, antifungal, hypoglycemic, immune regulation, insecticides, etc. In the last ten years, some new structures of steroidal saponins compounds were found from natural plants, they have some new and different activities. In order to accelerate the research on the drug innovation of steroidal saponins, we summarized the new progress of the research on such compounds.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Antifungal Agents ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Steroids ; pharmacology

To investigate the chemical compounds from the twigs of Euonymus alatus, nine compounds were isolated and identified as(+)-delta(2,11)-enaminousnic acid(1), 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid(2), acetyl 11-keto-beta-boswellic acid(3), camaldulenic acid(4), betulinic acid(5), 6beta-hydroxy-stigmast-4-en-3-one(6), 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxyflavone(7), ethyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate(8), 4,4'-dimethoxy-1,1'-biphenyl(9). Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. Among them, compound 1 was a new natural product. Compounds 2-4 and 7-9 were obtained from the Euonymus genus for the first time. In vitro study showed that compounds 2 and 3 showed significant anti-tumor activities to BEL-7402 and HCT-8 at the concentration of 10 mg x L(-1). The inhibition rate of compound 2 was 61.78% and 68.29%, whereas the inhibition rate of compound 3 had reached to 70.91% and 84.07%.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Euonymus ; chemistry ; Humans

This article studied the chemical constituents from the aerial part of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana. The 60% ethanol extract was eluted with 95% ethanol though HP-20 macroporous adsorption resin column. 12 compounds, including (1) betulinic acid, (2)2, 2, 2'-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane bis (2, 3-epoxypropyl) ether, (3) eriodictyol, (4) trans-ε-viniferin, (5) (+)-cis-ε-viniferin, (6) kobophenol A, (7) ampelopsin A, (8) nepalensinol B, (9) cis-miyabenol C, (10) cis-vitisin B, (11) cis-gnetin H and (12) (+)-hopeaphenol, were separated by using normal phase silica gel, ODS, Sephdadex LH-20 column chromatographies and semi-preparative or preparative HPLC. Compounds 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 were separated from the genus Vitis for the first time and compounds 3, 7, 12 were separated from Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana for the first time. At a concentration of 50 μmol · L(-1), compound 6, 7 and 11 showed strong cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell lines with the inhibition rate of 66.58%, 57.16%, 52.84%, respectively.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Vitis ; chemistry

The objective of this study was to develop a method for the determination of taxol injection using near infrared transmission spectroscopy, turning out redetermination for injection from hospital pharmacy before using. Near infrared spectra (NIR) in the range of 12 000 approximation 4 000cm(-1) were recorded for the taxol injection manufactured during recent 24 months with different time. Calibration models were established using the partial least squares (PLS). Comparing different spectra pretreatments methods, dimension and spectra range, The study showed that spectra information cab be extracted thoroughly by delete a line method with dimension 6, spectra range 9002.5 approximately 4597.7cm(-1) ,standard error of the calibration sets(SEC) 0.035 and standard error of the prediction sets(SEP) 0. 059. Percent of prediction sets sample is less than +/- 2%. Results indicate that near infrared transmission spectroscopy method can be used to rapidly analyze the frequent and important drugs from hospital pharmacy.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Calibration ; Injections ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; analysis ; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared ; methods

Emodin is one of the main active ingredient of Rheum palmatum, and has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and other effects. In recent years, it arouse concern since it has a significant anti-tumor effect with low toxicity. In this paper we mainly report the anti-cancer effects of emodin according to the studies of the past five years, including four parts such as inhibit tumor growth, inhibit migration and invasion, enhance the efficacy of combination therapy, increase chemosensitivity and attenuated side effects. We hope that our work may provide a reference for further study.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Emodin ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy

Acetates ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics ; Biotransformation ; Diterpenes ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; metabolism ; Taxoids ; metabolism ; pharmacokinetics