Molecular evidence of cryptotanshinone for treatment and prevention of human cancer

• Published in: Anti-cancer agents in medicinal chemistry Vol. 13; no. 7; p. 979
• Main Authors: Chen, Wenxing, Lu, Yin, Chen, Guangying, Huang, Shile
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01-09-2013
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacokinetics; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - pharmacology; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Drugs, Chinese Herbal - chemistry; Humans; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - metabolism; Phenanthrenes - chemistry; Phenanthrenes - pharmacokinetics; Phenanthrenes - pharmacology; Phenanthrolines - chemistry; Salvia miltiorrhiza - chemistry; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases - metabolism
• ISSN: 1875-5992
• DOI: 10.2174/18715206113139990115

Cryptotanshinone is one of the major tanshinones isolated from the roots of the plant Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). Danshen has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of a variety of diseases, including coronary artery disease, acute ischemic stroke, hyperlipidemia, chronic renal failure, chronic hepatitis, and Alzheimer's disease, showing no serious adverse effects. Recent studies have shown that cryptotanshinone not only possesses the potential for treatment and prevention of the above-mentioned diseases, but also is a potent anticancer agent. Here we briefly summarize the physical and chemical properties and the pharmacokinetic profiles of cryptotanshinone, and then comprehensively review its anticancer activities as well as the underlying mechanisms.