Antitumor Activities of Kushen: Literature Review
Open Access
- 1 January 2012
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Vol. 2012, 1-11
- https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/373219
Abstract
To discover and develop novel natural compounds with therapeutic selectivity or that can preferentially kill cancer cells without significant toxicity to normal cells is an important area in cancer chemotherapy. Kushen, the dried roots ofSophora flavescensAiton, has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer. Kushen alkaloids (KS-As) and kushen flavonoids (KS-Fs) are well-characterized components in kushen. KS-As containing oxymatrine, matrine, and total alkaloids have been developed in China as anticancer drugs. More potent antitumor activities were identified in KS-Fs than in KS-Asin vitroandin vivo. KS-Fs may be developed as novel antitumor agents.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Science Council (30701070, 11DZ1971702, 20100048, 08QA1406200, E03008)
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