*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

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of aescinate on inhibition and apoptosis of HL-60 cell line from promyelocytic leukemia. HL-60 cells at logarithm phase were treated with aescinate. Cell survival rate and cell morphology were observed, and the cell apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V/PI-FITC double labeling and DNA electrophoresis. The results showed that HL-60 cells could be inhibited in the presence of 15-120 mg/L of aescinate for 48 hours, survival rates were (92.2+/-0.69)%-(8.2+/-0.96)%, which were significantly lower than that of non-aescinate control (99.4+/-0.31)% (all p<0.01). The apoptosis of cells could be induced by aescinate treatment at dosage of 15-60 mg/L for 24 hours, the Annexin V positive cells accounted for (12.7+/-0.58)%-(65.4+/-1.30)% which were significantly higher than that of non-aescinate control (0.57+/-0.03)% (all p<0.01). The typical DNA ladder of HL-60 cells treated with aescinate was shown on the DNA electrophoresis pattern. It is concluded that aescinate can specifically induce apoptosis of leukemic HL-60 cells, which provides an experimental evidence for treatment of leukemia with aescinate as a supplementary agent to chemotherapy.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Phytotherapy

To study the anti-tumor metastatic constituents in Rhodiola wallichiana (HK) S H Fu var Cholaensis (Praeg) S H Fu, chemical constituents were isolated and purified by repeated column chromatography (silica gel, Toyopearl HW-40C and preparative HPLC). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral data analysis. The anti-tumor metastasis assay was applied to evaluate the activities of the isolated compounds. Ten compounds (1-10) were isolated and their structures were identified by comparison of their spectral data with literature as follows: syringic acid (1), salidroside (2), tyrosol (3), scaphopetalone (4), berchemol (5), 2,6-dimethoxyacetophenone (6), rhobupcyanoside A (7), miyaginin (8), chavicol-4-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 --> 6)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), eugenyol-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1 --> 6)-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (10). Compounds 4-6 and 8-10, were isolated from this genus for the first time, while compound 7 was isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 2, 6-8 showed positive anti-tumor metastatic activities, and compounds 2 and 8 showed significant anti-tumor metastatic activities.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; prevention & control ; Rhodiola ; chemistry

A commonly used Chinese crude drug Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus has been shown to possess good anticancer activities and related properties such as antioxidation, nitrite scavenging, nitrosamine synthesis blocking and immune enhancement, and has been widely used as an effective auxiliary drug in the treatment of some malignant tumors. This paper systematically reviews the advances in the study of anticancer-related activities of Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus's various components such as raw juice, extracts, saponins, volatile oil, polysaccharides, nitrogen compounds, etc.
Allium ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Antioxidants ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Oils, Volatile ; pharmacology ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology

Produced by and purified from Taxus brevifolia, Taxol (paclitaxel) has become a widely used cancer drug in clinic. Due to the rapid growing market, current industrial production of taxol by semi-synthesis that consumes large amount of Taxus trees cannot meet the requirement of the market. The discovery of taxol-producing fungus Taxomyces andeanae, an endophyte of T. brevifolia, by Stierle et al (1993), paves a new way to the production of the drug, i.e. employing large-scale fungal fermentation to make Taxol at lower cost and yet higher yield. This review discusses the present problems in taxol production in pharmaceutical industry, the finding and research progress on taxol-producing fungi, and the potential application of fungal fermentation to manufacture this important drug.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; biosynthesis ; Fermentation ; Mitosporic Fungi ; metabolism ; Paclitaxel ; biosynthesis ; Taxus ; microbiology ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

This is to report the screening, extracting and validating antitumor components and compounds from Stellera chamaejasme L. under the case of discrete distribution of active data. In this work, different components from Stellera chamaejasme L. were collected by HPD macroporous resin and polyamide resin column, and their antitumor activity on A549 were tested by MTT assay. Activity results indicate that activity of components at 30-39 min is more potent than that of Stellera chamaejasme L. extract, and the activity of components at 33.97 min is equivalent to positive drug, cis-platinum at 100 microg x mL(-1), but with totally different mode of action. Under the case of discrete activity, the weight analysis is capable of screening active components and compounds from natural products.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry