Synthesis of naphthalimide-phenanthro[9,10-d]imidazole derivatives: In vitro evaluation, binding interaction with DNA and topoisomerase inhibition

Enhanced Antitumor and Antibacterial Activities of Ursolic Acid through β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexation

Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid known for its wide range of biological activities, including anticancer and antimicrobial effects. However, its poor solubility in water limits its therapeutic potential. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the physicochemical properties of the ursolic acid/β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex (UA/βCD IC) and investigate the enhancement of the in vitro antitumor and antibacterial activities of UA when complexed with βCD. Molecular docking simulation showed that the carbonyl group of UA binds to the internal cavity of βCD, forming a hydrogen bond with the glucosidic residues of βCD. FTIR analysis revealed significant changes in the absorption peaks of UA/βCD IC, indicating interaction between the compounds, such as the reduction in intensity of the C=O and ν(O-H) bands. These results were supported by thermal analysis, as the degradation temperature of UA (233°C) and βCD (294°C) was suppressed in UA/βCD IC (191°C) compared to the free components. In addition, NMR analysis revealed significant changes in the chemical shift of the H located on the anomeric carbon (C1) of the glucose units in β-CD for the IC spectra (Δδ: 0.0041 ppm) compared to βCD, which are related to perturbations in the atomic electronic density. The colloidal characterization results also showed that UA/βCD IC has more stable colloidal properties with higher zeta potential values compared to free UA. As shown by the solubility assay, the interaction between UA and βCD formed stable inclusion complexes that increased the aqueous solubility of UA by approximately 35.85% (AUC: UA = 12.72, βCD = 6.78, UA/βCD = 17.28, p < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that IC was also associated with significant changes in particle shape and size. In addition, the UA/βCD IC showed greater antitumor activity than free UA, particularly in the MDA (71.95 ± 4.88%) and MCF-7 (73.40 ± 1.55%) cell lines. It showed similar efficacy to etoposide in HL60 (86.9 ± 0.84%) and JURKAT (85.35 ± 4.03%) cells. The UA/βCD IC significantly reduced the MIC values, improving the antibacterial activity particularly against E. faecalis (UA MIC: 31.3 μg/mL; UA/βCD MIC: 7.8 μg/mL), followed by S. aureus, B. cereus, and K. pneumoniae (UA MIC: 31.3 μg/mL; UA/βCD MIC: 15.6 μg/mL). Therefore, the UA/βCD IC significantly modifies the physicochemical properties of UA, resulting in enhanced aqueous solubility and biological properties, as confirmed by the improved antitumor and antibacterial activities.

Insight into Stabilization of G-Quadruplex in c-MYC Region with Phenanthroimidazoisoindol-Acrylates and their Binding Behaviour towards Human Serum Albumin

The interaction of G-quadruplex (non-canonical DNA) with suitable compounds for their stabilization at the promoter region of oncogenes has become a potential anticancer approach. We have studied the interaction of phenanthroimidazoisoindol-acrylates derivatives with c-MYC G-quadruplex. A series of 20 compounds were evaluated for their anticancer activity against human cancer cell lines, where compounds 3 fa, 3 ha, and 3 ae have shown the broad-spectrum anticancer activities against most of the cancer cell lines and inactive towards normal cell lines. Various spectroscopic techniques have been used to study the interaction of these compounds. The studies reveal the strong binding of all three compounds with c-MYC G-quadruplex with significant selectivity over dsDNA, with binding constant of the order of 106 M-1. All three compounds bind effectively with HSA, which is a carrier protein, with binding constant of the order of 105 M-1. These results show that phenanthroimidazoisoindol-acrylate derivatives exhibit specificity towards G4 DNA, highlighting their potential as effective anticancer agents targeting the c-MYC G-quadruplex.

Selective Recognition of Oncogene Promoter C-Myc G-Quadruplex: Design, Synthesis, and In Vitro Evaluation of Naphthalimide and Imidazo[1,2-a]pyrazines for Their Anticancer Activity

c-Myc is a transcription factor that is overexpressed in most human cancers. Despite its challenging nature, we have developed a series of naphthalimide-imidazopyrazine conjugates to target c-Myc. The library of synthesized derivatives was tested for their anticancer activity against a nine-panel of cancer cell lines. Compound 8eb showed excellent cytotoxicity against all the tested cancer cell lines, with the range of growth inhibition from -98.79% to 96.62% at a single-dose concentration of 10-5 M. Further, 8eb was employed for a 5-dose assay against the same cancer cell lines, which showed efficacy at varying concentrations with an MG-MID GI50 value of 2.61 μM. Biophysical studies were performed to explore the interaction of 8eb with c-Myc Pu27 over ct-DNA, oncogene promotor Pu22, and human telomere, with a binding constant value of 1.3 × 107 M-1. Additionally, experiments were performed to get insights into the interaction mechanism between 8eb and the c-Myc oncogene promoter. A molecular docking study unveiled the stacking of the compound with G4 DNA through groove binding, where very few reports are available, with a favorable binding energy of -9.2 kcal/mol. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic study and HOMO-LUMO energy gap analysis underscored the potency of the active candidate. The compound's binding ability toward HSA was also assessed, where results suggested effective binding of the compound to HSA, revealing its potential for easy delivery to the target site. The above findings suggested that these newly synthesized candidates with potent anticancer activity offer a promising avenue as G4 DNA c-Myc stabilizers.

New imidazole-2-thiones linked to acenaphythylenone as dual DNA intercalators and topoisomerase II inhibitors: structural optimization, docking, and apoptosis studies

In this article, a new series of 2-((3,5-disubstituted-2-thioxo-imidazol-1-yl)imino)acenaphthylen-1(2H)-ones were synthesized. Imidazole-2-thione with acenaphthylen-one gave a hybrid scaffold that integrated key structural elements essential for DNA damage via direct DNA intercalation and inhibition of the topoisomerase II enzyme. All the synthesized compounds were screened to detect their DNA damage using a terbium fluorescent probe. Results demonstrated that 4-phenyl-imidazoles 5b and 5e in addition to 4-(4-chlorophenyl)imidazoles 5h and 5j would induce detectable potent damage in ctDNA. The four most potent compounds as DNA intercalators were further evaluated for their antiproliferative activity against HepG2, MCF-7 and HCT-116 utilizing the MTT assay. The highest anticancer activity was recorded with compounds 5b and 5h against the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 which were 1.5- and 3- folds more active than doxorubicin, respectively. Therefore, imidazole-2-thione tethered acenaphthylenone derivatives can be considered as promising scaffold for the development of effective dual DNA intercalators and topoisomerase II inhibitors.

Efficient synthesis of novel 1,10 phenanthroline-substituted imidazolium salts: Exploring their anticancer applications

This study reports a new series of 1,10-phenanthroline-substituted imidazolium salts (1a-f), examining their design, synthesis, structure and anticancer activities. The structures of these salts (1a-f) were characterized using 1H, 13C NMR, elemental analysis, mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopies. The salts' cytotoxic activities were tested against cancer cell lines, specifically MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and non-tumorigenic MCF-10A mammary cells. The study compared the impact of aliphatic and benzylic groups in the salts' structure on their anticancer activity. Screening results revealed that compound 1c, in particular, showed promising inhibitory activity against the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 12.8 ± 1.2 μM, indicating its potential as a chemotherapeutic agent. Cell apoptosis analysis demonstrated a tendency for compound 1c to induce early apoptosis in breast cancer cells. The stability/aquation of compound 1c was investigated using 1H NMR spectroscopy and its binding modes with DNA were explored via UV-Vis spectroscopy. Additionally, the study investigated the interaction residues and docking scores of compound 1c and the reference drug doxorubicin against Bax and Bcl-2 proteins using molecular docking.

Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Sequential C-H/N-H Alkene Annulation Cascade of Phenanthroimidazoles: Synthesis and Photophysical Studies

We report ruthenium(II)-catalyzed sequential C-H/N-H alkenylation cascade of phenanthroimidazole and alkenes to form novel phenanthroimidazoisoindol acrylates via dual C-H activation and aza-Michael reaction. The two nitrogen atoms of the imidazole ring act as directing groups for regioselective dual sequential ortho C-H activation. These polycyclic N-heterocycles were evaluated for their photophysical properties.

Novel Bis(2-cyanoacrylamide) Linked to Sulphamethoxazole: Synthesis, DNA Interaction, Anticancer, ADMET, Molecular Docking, and DFT Studies

In the light of advancement and potential extensive use of medication design and therapy, new bis(cyanoacrylamides) incorporating sulphamethoxazole derivatives (7 a-7 f) were synthesized and confirmed by different spectral tools. In vitro anticancer activity towards different human cancer cells (HCT116, MDA-MB-231 and A549) was assessed using MTT assay. Among all derivatives, 4C- and 6C-spacer derivatives (7 e and 7 f) had the most potent growth inhibitory activities against HCT116 cells with IC50 values of 39.7 and 28.5 μM, respectively. 7 e and 7 f induced apoptosis and suppressed migration of HCT116 cells. These compounds also induced a significant increase in caspase-3 and CDH1 activities, and a downregulation of Bcl2 using ELISA. pBR322 DNA cleavage activities of cyanoacrylamides were determined using agarose gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, 7 e and 7 f showed good DNA and BSA binding affinities using different spectroscopic techniques. Furthermore, molecular docking for 7 e and 7 f was performed to anticipate their binding capabilities toward various proteins (Bcl2, CDH1 and BSA). The docking results were well correlated with those of experimental results. Additionally, density functional theory and ADMET study were performed to evaluate the molecular and pharmacokinetic features of 7 e and 7 f, respectively. Thus, this work reveals promising antitumor lead compounds that merit future research and activity enhancement.

Engineered Artesunate-Naphthalimide Hybrid Dual Drug for Synergistic Multimodal Therapy against Experimental Murine Lymphoma

Lymphoma can effectively be treated with a chemotherapy regimen that is associated with adverse side effects due to increasing drug resistance, so there is an emergent need for alternative small-molecule inhibitors to overcome the resistance that occurs in lymphoma management and overall increase the prognosis rate. A new series of substituted naphthalimide moieties conjugated via ester and amide linkages with artesunate were designed, synthesized, and characterized. In addition to the conjugates, to further achieve a theranostic molecule, FITC was incorporated via a multistep synthesis process. DNA binding studies of these selected derivatives by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis), fluorescence spectroscopy, intercalating dye (EtBr, acridine orange)-DNA competitive assay, and minor groove binding dye Hoechst 33342-DNA competitive assay suggested that the synthesized novel molecules intercalated between the two strands of DNA due to its naphthalimide moiety and its counterpart artesunate binds with the minor groove of DNA. Napthalimide-artesunate conjugates inhibit the growth of lymphoma and induce apoptosis, including ready incorporation and reduction in cell viability. The remodeled drug has a significant tumoricidal effect against solid DL tumors developed in BALB/c mice in a dose-dependent manner. The novel drug appears to inhibit metastasis and increase the survival of the treated animals compared with untreated littermates.

Overview of the New Bioactive Heterocycles as Targeting Topoisomerase Inhibitors Useful Against Colon Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer globally, with high mortality. Metastatic CRC is incurable in most cases, and multiple drug therapy can increase patients' life expectancy by 2 to 3 years. Efforts are being made to understand the relationship between topoisomerase enzymes and colorectal cancer. Some studies have shown that higher expression of these enzymes is correlated to a poor prognosis for this type of cancer. One of the primary drugs used in the treatment of CRC is Irinotecan, which can be used in monotherapy or, more commonly, in therapeutic schemes such as FOLFIRI (Fluorouracil, Leucovorin, and Irinotecan) and CAPIRI (Capecitabine and Irinotecan). Like Camptothecin, Irinotecan and other compounds have a mechanism of action based on the formation of a ternary complex with topoisomerase I and DNA providing damage to it, therefore leading to cell death. Thus, this review focused on the principal works published in the last ten years that demonstrate a correlation between the inhibition of different isoforms of topoisomerase and in vitro cytotoxic activity against CRC by natural products, semisynthetic and synthetic compounds of pyridine, quinoline, acridine, imidazoles, indoles, and metal complexes. The results revealed that natural compounds, semisynthetic and synthetic derivatives showed potential in vitro cytotoxicity against several colon cancer cell lines, and this activity was often accompanied by the ability to inhibit both isoforms of topoisomerase (I and II), highlighting that these enzymes can be promising targets for the development of new chemotherapy against CRC. Pyridine analogs were considered the most promising for this study, while the evaluation of the real potential of natural products was limited by the lack of information in their work. Moreover, the complexes, although promising, presented as the main limitation the lack of selectivity.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1-phenyl-4,6-dihydrobenzo[b]pyrazolo[3,4-d]azepin-5(1H)-one/thiones as anticancer agents

Cancer is associated with uncontrolled cell proliferation invading adjoining tissues and organs. Despite the availability of several chemotherapeutic agents, the constant search for newer approaches and drugs is necessitated owing to the ever-growing challenge of resistance. Over the years, DNA has emerged as an important druggable therapeutic drug due to its role in critical cellular processes such as cell division and maintenance. Further, evading apoptosis stands out as a hallmark of cancer. Hence, designing new compounds that would target DNA and induce apoptosis plays an important role in cancer therapy. In the current work, we carried out the synthesis and anticancer evaluation of 1-aryl-4,6-dihydrobenzo[b]pyrazolo[3,4-d]azepin-5(1H)-ones/thiones (26 compounds) against selected human cancer cell lines. Among these, compounds 8ae, 8ad, 8cf, 10ad and Kenpaullone have shown good inhibitory properties against HeLa cells (IC₅₀ < 2 µM) with good selectivity over the non-cancerous human embryonic kidney (Hek293T) cells. In cell cycle analysis, the compounds 8ad and 8cf have exhibited G₂/M cell cycle arrest in HeLa cells. In addition, the compounds 8ad and 8cf induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in the Annexin-V FITC staining assay. The DAPI staining clearly demonstrated the condensed and fragmented nuclei in 8ad, 8cf, 8ae and Kenpaullone-treated HeLa cells. In addition, these compounds strongly suppressed the healing after 48 h in in vitro cell migration assay. The DNA binding experiments indicated that compounds 8ae, 8cf, and 8ad as well as Kenpaullone interact with double-stranded DNA by binding in grooves which may interrupt the DNA replication and kill fast-growing cells. Molecular docking studies revealed the binding pose of 8ad and Kenpaullone at HT1 binding pocket of double-stranded DNA. Compounds 8ad and 8cf demonstrated moderate topo II inhibition which could be a possible reason for their anticancer properties. Compounds 8ad and 8cf may cause the topo II and DNA covalent complex, which leads to the inhibition of DNA replication and transcription. This eventually increases the DNA damage in cells and promotes cell apoptosis. With the above interesting biological profile, the new 1-aryl-2,6-dihydrobenzo[b]pyrazolo[3,4-d]azepin-5(4H)-one/thione derivatives have emerged as promising leads for the discovery of new anticancer agents.

Substituted naphthoxy-phthalonitrile derivatives: Synthesis, substituent effects, DFT, TD-DFT Calculations, antimicrobial properties and DNA interaction studies

Herein, substituted-naphthol derivatives 4a-e were synthesized in two steps, namely the Diels Alder cycloaddition and Cu-catalyzed aromatization reactions, respectively. Then, pththalonitrile derivatives 7-12 have been prepared by a nucleophilic displacement reaction of 3-nitrophthalonitrile with the naphthol derivatives 4a-e, 5 and, obtained in excellent yields. Structural characterization of the compounds was identified by different spectroscopic techniques. Antimicrobial properties of the synthesized compounds were determined by the microdilution procedure against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and yeast. Furthermore, the DNA interaction of the compounds were determined by gel electrophoresis. One of the most prominent findings is that compounds 9 and 10 have more inhibitory effects on Gram-positive bacteria than Gram-negative bacteria. These compounds especially exhibited the highest antibacterial potency against S. aureus (625 µg/mL) among Gram-positive bacteria. According to the plasmid DNA interaction results, the synthesized compounds caused changes in the structure and mobility of the plasmid DNA. Then, geometry optimizations and frequency calculations were conducted at B3LYP/6-311 G(d,p) level of DFT, and optimized structures were used for further analyses. The NBO results revealed that the π→π * and n→π * interactions were greatly contributed to lowering the stabilization energy of all compounds (7-12). FMO energy analyses showed that compound 9 has the biggest electrodonating power.

Recent development of imidazole derivatives as potential anticancer agents

Cancer, one of the key health problems globally, is a group of related diseases that share a number of characteristics primarily the uncontrolled growth and invasive to surrounding tissues. Chemotherapy is one of the ways for the treatment of cancer which uses one or more anticancer agents as per chemotherapy regimen. Limitations of most anticancer drugs due to a variety of reasons such as serious side effects, drug resistance, lack of sensitivity and efficacy etc. generate the necessity towards the designing of novel anticancer lead molecules. In this regard, the synthesis of biologically active heterocyclic molecules is an appealing research area. Among heterocyclic compounds, nitrogen containing heterocyclic molecules has fascinated tremendous consideration due to broad range of pharmaceutical activity. Imidazoles, extensively present in natural products as well as synthetic molecules, have two nitrogen atoms, and are five membered heterocyclic rings. Because of their countless physiological and pharmacological characteristics, medicinal chemists are enthused to design and synthesize new imidazole derivatives with improved pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties. The aim of this present chapter is to discuss the synthesis, chemistry, pharmacological activity, and scope of imidazole-based molecules in anticancer drug development. Finally, we have discussed the current challenges and future perspectives of imidazole-based derivatives in anticancer drug development.

Synthesis and photobiological applications of naphthalimide-benzothiazole conjugates: cytotoxicity and topoisomerase IIα inhibition

Conjugates of naphthalimide, benzothiazole, and indole moieties are synthesized that show excellent cytotoxicity against A549 (lung), MCF7 (breast), and HeLa (cervix) cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.14–8.59 μM. Compounds 12 and 13 substituted with ethanolamine and propargyl groups reveal potent cytotoxicity towards A549 cancer cells with IC₅₀ values of 140 and 310 nM, respectively. These compounds are further evaluated as potent inhibitors of human type IIα topoisomerase. These conjugates also reveal strong interaction towards human serum albumin (HSA) with binding constant values of 1.75 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ and 1.88 × 10⁵ M⁻¹, respectively, and formation of the stable complex at ground state with static quenching. Docking studies also confirm the effective interactions between conjugates and topoisomerase.

Conjugates of naphthalimide, benzothiazole, and indole moieties are synthesized that show excellent cytotoxicity against A549 (lung), MCF7 (breast), and HeLa (cervix) cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.14–8.59 μM.

Imidazoles and Oxazoles from Lapachones and Phenanthrene-9,10-dione: A Journey through their Synthesis, Biological Studies, and Optical Applications

Diverse structural frameworks are found in natural compounds and are well known for their chemical and biological properties; such compounds include the imidazoles and oxazoles. Researchers worldwide are continually working on the development of methods for synthesizing new molecules bearing these basic moiety and evaluating their properties and applications. To expand the knowledge related to azoles, this review summarizes important examples of imidazole and oxazole derivatives from 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds, such as lapachones and phenanthrene-9,10-diones, not only regarding their synthesis and biological applications but also their photophysical properties and uses. The data concerning the latter are particularly scarce in the literature, which leads to underestimation of the potential applications that can be envisaged for these compounds.

Synthesis of Triphenylethylene-Naphthalimide Conjugates as topoisomerase-IIα inhibitor and HSA binder

A series of triphenylethylene-naphthalimide (TPE-naph) conjugates was synthesized by a molecular hybridization technique, and their anticancer activity was evaluated in vitro on 60 human cancer cell lines through their cytotoxicity. The ratios of E and Z isomers were determined on the basis of HPLC methodology and NMR spectroscopy. The structure-activity relationship for anticancer activity was deduced on the basis of the nature and bulkiness of the amine attached to the C-4 position of the naphthalene ring. Experimental and molecular modeling studies of the most active TPE-naph conjugate bearing a morpholinyl group showed that it was able to inhibit topoisomerase-II (TOPO-II) as a possible intracellular target. Moreover, the transportation behavior of TPE-naph conjugate towards human serum albumin (HSA) indicated efficient binding affinity. The steady-state and time-dependent fluorescent results suggested that this conjugate quenched HSA significantly through static as well as dynamic quenching. Thus, this report discloses the scope of triphenylethylene-naphthalimide (TPE-naph) conjugates as efficient anticancer agents.

5-Aryl-1-Arylideneamino-1H-Imidazole-2(3H)-Thiones: Synthesis and In Vitro Anticancer Evaluation

A novel series of N-1 arylidene amino imidazole-2-thiones were synthesized, identified using IR, ¹H-NMR, and ¹³C-NMR spectral data. Cytotoxic effect of the prepared compounds was carried out utilizing three cancer cell lines; MCF-7 breast cancer, HepG2 liver cancer, and HCT-116 colon cancer cell lines. Imidazole derivative 5 was the most potent of all against three cell lines. DNA flow cytometric analysis showed that, imidazoles 4d and 5 exhibit pre-G1 apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. The results of the VEGFR-2 and B-Raf kinase inhibition assay revealed that compounds 4d and 5 displayed good inhibitory activity compared with reference drug erlotinib.

Design, synthesis and antiproliferative evaluation of new tricyclic fused thiazolopyrimidines targeting topoisomerase II: Molecular docking and apoptosis inducing activity

A novel series of thiazolopyrimidines and fused thiazolopyrimidines was designed and synthesized as topoisomerase II alpha inhibitors. All synthesized compounds were screened by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Bethesda, USA for anticancer activity against 60 human cancer cell lines representing the following cancer types: leukemia, non-small cell lung, colon, CNS, melanoma, ovarian, renal, prostate, and breast cancers. Compound 3a was found to be the most potent inhibitor on renal cell line (A-498) causing 83.03% inhibition (IC₅₀ = 1.89 μM). DNA-flow cytometric analysis showed that compound 3a induce cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase leading to cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis. Moreover, fused thiazolopyrimidines 3a showed potent topoisomerase II inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 3.19 μM) when compared with reference compound doxorubicin (IC₅₀ = 2.67 μM). Docking study of all the synthesized compounds showed that compound 3a interacts in a similar pattern to etoposide and stabilizing the topoisomerase cleavage complex (Top2-cc) that accounts for its high potency.

Synthesis of Pt(II) complexes of the type [Pt(1,10-phenanthroline)(SArFn)2] (SArFn = SC6H3-3,4-F2; SC6F4-4-H; SC6F5). Preliminary evaluation of their in vitro anticancer activity

A series of Pt(II) complexes of the type [Pt(1,10-phenanthroline)(SArF_n)₂] (SArF_n = SC₆H₃-3,4-F₂(1); SC₆F₄-4-H (2); SC₆F₅(3)) were synthesized from [Pt(1,10-phenanthroline)(Cl)₂] and [Pb(SArF_n)₂] via metathesis reactions. The complexes were fully characterized including the unambiguous determination of their molecular structures by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, showing the metal centers to be into a slightly distorted square-planar environments. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of the complexes was evaluated on six cancerous cell lines, i.e: glial cells of nervous central system (U-251), prostate (PC-3), leukemia (K-562), colon (HCT-15), breast (MCF-7) and lung (SKLU-1); we also included a healthy cell line of COS-7 (African green monkey kidney) for comparative purposes. We found that complex 2 was selective for PC-3. In addition, the IC₅₀ values for the series of complexes were determined using the U-251, HCT-15 and SKLU-1 cancerous cell lines, as well as in the healthy cell line (COS-7), where complex 1 exhibited the best activity, with IC₅₀ values going from 4.56 to 4.78 μM. These studies where further complemented with DNA docking theoretical calculations and DNA affinity experiments.

Recent advances and future directions in anti-tumor activity of cryptotanshinone: A mechanistic review

In respect to the enhanced incidence rate of cancer worldwide, studies have focused on cancer therapy using novel strategies. Chemotherapy is a common strategy in cancer therapy, but its adverse effects and chemoresistance have limited its efficacy. So, attempts have been directed towards minimally invasive cancer therapy using plant derived-natural compounds. Cryptotanshinone (CT) is a component of salvia miltiorrihiza Bunge, well-known as Danshen and has a variety of therapeutic and biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and neuroprotective. Recently, studies have focused on anti-tumor activity of CT against different cancers. Notably, this herbal compound is efficient in cancer therapy by targeting various molecular signaling pathways. In the present review, we mechanistically describe the anti-tumor activity of CT with an emphasis on molecular signaling pathways. Then, we evaluate the potential of CT in cancer immunotherapy and enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy by sensitizing cancer cells into anti-tumor activity of chemotherapeutic agents, and elevating accumulation of anti-tumor drugs in cancer cells. Finally, we mention strategies to enhance the anti-tumor activity of CT, for instance, using nanoparticles to provide targeted drug delivery.