Oridonin: A promising anticancer drug from China

Abstract

Oridonin, a diterpenoid isolated from Rabdosia rubescens (Hemsl.) Hara, has been proved to possess remarkable anticancer activity, in addition to its potential in antiinflammation and antibacteria. The purpose of this article is to review current progress in oridonin concerned about a relationship between the chemical structure/modifications and its anticancer activity and to discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying its anticancer activity, such as suppression of tumor proliferation and induction of tumor cell death, and the cell signal transduction in anticancer activity of oridonin.

Keywords

oridonin / chemical structure / antitumor / signal transduction

References

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Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the Science and Technology Development Fund of the Macao Special Administrative Region (Nos: 071/2009/A3 and 091/2009/A).

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg