Curcumae Rhizoma: An anti-cancer traditional Chinese medicine.
10.1016/j.chmed.2025.04.006
- Author:
Yu LUO
1
;
Lin ZHU
1
;
Zhengyu REN
1
;
Jian XIAO
2
;
Erwei HAO
2
;
Jiahong LU
1
;
Jinmin ZHAO
3
;
Chun YAO
2
;
Yitao WANG
1
;
Hua LUO
1
Author Information
1. Macau Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao 999078, China.
2. Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530001, China.
3. College of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Curcumae Rhizoma;
Ezhu;
cancer;
curcumin;
curcumol;
germacrone;
traditional Chinese medicine;
β-elemene
- From:
Chinese Herbal Medicines
2025;17(3):428-447
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Curcumae Rhizoma, derived from the rhizome of Curcuma phaeocaulis, Curcuma kwangsiensis and Curcuma wenyujin, was called Ezhu in China. In the past, Curcumae Rhizoma extracts were obtained through water decoction or alternative methods, which showed significant anti-cancer effects. However, the mixed extracts contain various compound components of Curcumae Rhizoma, leading to an ambiguous mechanism of action for Curcumae Rhizoma extracts anti-cancer. Contemporary researchers have extracted the chemical components of Curcumae Rhizoma separately for experimental verification of its active ingredients in the anti-cancer field. Numerous studies demonstrated that curcumol, germacrone, β-elemene, and curcumin in Curcumae Rhizoma extracts have significant governing effects in anti-cancer activities. Pharmacological studies have shown that Curcumae Rhizoma suppresses cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, triggering apoptosis and regulating cellular autophagy to achieve anticancer effects. Here, we summarized the research progress of Curcumae Rhizoma on anti-cancer effects from 2013 to 2022, aiming to explore the deeper molecular mechanisms of Curcumae Rhizoma's active components in cancer treatment.
