Research progress on antitumor activities of C21 steroidal glycosides of Cynanchi Bungei Radix / 中草药

Cynanchi Bungei Radix is a precious Chinese meteria medica of tonifying kidney, benefiting liver, keeping fit, and preventing senility, which also has the pharmacological effect of cancer prevention and anticancer. C21 steroids glycosides are considered as one of its main anticancer active components. In this paper, the main types of C21 steroids and glycosyl groups, the main antitumor mechanism of C21 steroidal glycosides, the effect of C21 steroidal glycosides on different tumors and the influencing factors, and the toxicological research status of C21 steroidal glycosides were reviewed, which can provide references for the following research of C21 steroidal glycosides in Cynanchi Bungei Radix.

New Antiepileptic Drugs in Childhood Epilepsy

Many new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have been developed in the last two decades, contributing to the optimal treatment for childhood epilepsy. The goal of the treatment is to achieve seizure-free without any side effects, that deteriorates the quality of life by causing negative consequences. The new AEDs have not shown better efficacy, but generally seem to be better tolerated, having fewer systemic reactions and better pharmacokinetics than the established AEDs. The new AEDs have a broad spectrum of activities, which offer new opportunities to patients who have not shown any favorable responses to the established ones. There are more choices when trying to select AEDs for epileptic seizures and syndromes. Majority of the new AEDs have more than one action mechanism. AEDs acting selectively through the GABAergic system are tiagabine and vigabatrin; acting by inhibition of voltagedependent Na+ and Ca2+ channels are lamotirigine, oxcabarbazepine and topiramate; and acting by inhibition of glutamate-mediated excitation are felbamate, topiramate. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the new AEDs compared to the established AEDs, new AEDs have improved in terms of longer half-lives, permitting less frequent daily dosing, reduced potential for drug interactions. Considerations in selecting an AEDs are not only dependent on seizure types or syndromes, side effect profile, action mechanism, drug interaction, pharmacokinetic profile, facility of drug initiation, but also on age and sex of patients. Patients with worsened seizurefrequency or development of new types of seizure after the introduction of AEDs, should be questioned on the previously diagnosed seizure types or syndromes.