Antitumor activity of artemisinin and its derivatives: From a well-known antimalarial agent to a potential anticancer drug

316Citations
Citations of this article
350Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

Improvement of quality of life and survival of cancer patients will be greatly enhanced by the development of highly effective drugs to selectively kill malignant cells. Artemisinin and its analogs are naturally occurring antimalarials which have shown potent anticancer activity. In primary cancer cultures and cell lines, their antitumor actions were by inhibiting cancer proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. In xenograft models, exposure to artemisinins substantially reduces tumor volume and progression. However, the rationale for the use of artemisinins in anticancer therapy must be addressed by a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in their cytotoxic effects. The primary targets for artemisinin and the chemical base for its preferential effects on heterologous tumor cells need yet to be elucidated. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the recent advances and new development of this class of drugs as potential anticancer agents. © 2012 Maria P. Crespo-Ortiz and Ming Q. Wei.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Crespo-Ortiz, M. P., & Wei, M. Q. (2012). Antitumor activity of artemisinin and its derivatives: From a well-known antimalarial agent to a potential anticancer drug. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology. https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/247597

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free