Fallopia japonica: Bioactive Secondary Metabolites and Molecular Mode of Anticancer

Abstract

Traditional medicinal plants are a large source of natural anticancer compounds that might serve as leads for the development of novel drugs. In recent years, the scientific community in the Western world has recognized the potential of natural products, used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Since ancient times Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), has been utilized in many TCM herbal preparations as anti-cancer agent. F. japonica (FJ) is known to produce a series of bioactive secondary metabolites, including anthraquinones, stilbens, tannins, lignans, anthocyanins, phenethyl alcohols, sterols, and essential oils. Resveratrol (a stilben) and emodin (an anthraquinone) are the major active ingredients of FJ. The anticancer activity of both compounds has various molecular modes of action and mechanisms through their ability to modulate the proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, growth factors, protein kinase C (PKC), NF-kappa B (NF-κB), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades. This review presents an overview of the secondary metabolites of F. japonica and anticancer activities of the extract and main active principles, resveratrol and emodin. The possible molecular targets and potential chemopreventive effects are discussed.