RESUMEN
Cardamonin (2, 4-dihydroxy-6-methoxychalcone, CAR), the main flavonoid that derived from the seed of Alpinia katsumadai, has received growing attention due to a wide range of biological activities, especially for antitumor activities. A series of homologous compounds are synthesized. Previous studies have demonstrated that CAR can inhibit the growth of glioblastoma, Lewis lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer cells and so on. The mechanism underlying the antitumor effects of CAR is involved in the pathways of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κβ), transglutaminase-2 (tgase-2), endogenous apoptosis, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), E-cadherin, autophagy, β-catenin, and cell cycle regulation etc. This review summarizes the recent progress in the antitumor activities and mechanisms of CAR and its derivatives.