Islam MT, Ali ES, Uddin SJ, Khan IN, Shill MC, de Castro E Sousa JM, de Alencar MVOB, Melo-Cavalcante AAC, Mubarak MS. Anti-Cancer Effects of Asiatic Acid, a Triterpene from Centilla asiatica L: A Review.
Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021;
20:536-547. [PMID:
31823705 DOI:
10.2174/1871520619666191211103006]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Centilla asiatica L is a medicinal herb that has been widely used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. Asiatic Acid (AA), a triterpene and a known component of this herb, has been shown to display important biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic, neuroprotective, anxiolytic and antidepressant, hepatoprotective, pancreas protective, and cardio- protective.
OBJECTIVE
This review focuses on AA's anti-cancer effects on the basis of published literature found in a number of databases such as PubMed and Science Direct. Emphasis has been given to the mechanisms of action of its anti-cancer effect.
METHODS
A literature survey was conducted using known databases such as PubMed and Science Direct using the keywords 'Asiatic acid', pairing with 'cancer', 'tumor', 'anti-cancer effect', 'cytotoxic effect', 'anti-tumor activity', 'cell line', 'animal cancer', and 'human cancer'.
RESULTS
Findings suggest that AA exerts anti-cancer effects in several test systems through various pathways, including oxidative/antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, apoptotic cell death, necrosis, anti-angiogenesis, inhibition of proliferation and cell migration, and chemoprevention.
CONCLUSION
AA may be an effective plant-based cancer chemotherapeutic agent and a promising lead for the development of potent anticancer drugs.
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