Progress on the antitumor activity of cryptotanshinone and its derivatives / 药学实践杂志

ABSTRACT

Cryptotanshinone is one of the effective components of traditional Chinese medicine salvia miltiorrhiza which shows good activities against a variety of tumors. Its anti-tumor effects include inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, induction of cell apoptosis, inhibition of cell migration and invasion, regulation of immune function and reversal of drug resistance. The direct anti-tumor targets include signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), tyrosine protein phosphatase SHP2, DNA topoisomerase 2, and other mechanisms of action include the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, regulation of estrogen and androgen receptor signaling, and inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In addition, many cryptotanshinone derivatives have been designed and synthesized to study the antitumor effects. The research progress of the antitumor activity of cryptotanshinone and its derivatives were reviewed in this paper to give references to the anti-tumor drug development of cryptotanshinone and its derivatives.