Andrographolide: A New Plant-Derived Antineoplastic Entity on Horizon.
Varma A, Padh H, Shrivastava N.
B. V. Patel Pharmaceutical Education & Research Development (PERD)
Centre, Sarkhej-Gandhinagar Highway, Thaltej, Ahmedabad 380054,
Gujarat, India. neetashrivastava_perd@yahoo.co.in.
Plant-derived natural products occupy an important position in the
area of cancer chemotherapy. Molecules such as vincristine,
vinblastine, paclitaxel, camptothecin derivatives, epipodophyllotoxin,
etc. are invaluable contributions of nature to modern medicine.
However, the quest to find out novel therapeutic compounds for cancer
treatment and management is a never-ending venture; and diverse plant
species are persistently being studied for identification of
prospective anticancer agents. In this regard, Andrographis paniculata
Nees, a well-known plant of Indian and Chinese traditional system of
medicines, has drawn attention of researchers in recent times.
Andrographolide, the principal bioactive chemical constituent of the
plant has shown credible anticancer potential in various
investigations around the globe. In vitro studies demonstrate the
capability of the compound of inducing cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis
in a variety of cancer cells at different concentrations.
Andrographolide also shows potent immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenic
activities in tumorous tissues. Synthetic analogues of the compound
have also been created and analyzed, which have also shown similar
activities. Although it is too early to predict its future in cancer
chemotherapy, the prologue strongly recommends further research on
this molecule to assess its potential as a prospective anticancer
agent.
PMID: 19752167 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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