Sesquiterpene Lactones as Promising Candidates for Cancer Therapy: Focus on Pancreatic Cancer

Interaction of vernodalin with p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and subsequent effects in lung cancer cell model

The p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) is a key regulator of numerous cellular processes relevant to cancer therapy. Apart from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated activation, the p38 pathway can also be activated through direct interactions between the p38 MAPK protein which stabilize an open conformation of the activation loop, exposing the phosphorylation sites. Therefore, assessing p38 MAPK expression and the direct binding of anticancer agents with p38 MAPK can provide critical insights for advancing the development of innovative anticancer therapies. In this research, following the incubation of A549 lung cancer cells with vernodalin (VN), a sesquiterpene lactone, several cellular assays were conducted. It was noted that VN suppressed the proliferation of A549 cells with IC50 values of 65.80 μM, 39,90 μM, and 25.85 μM at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h, respectively, while, IC50 values were higher for VN in BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells. Moreover, we discovered that VN leads to excessive ROS and MDA production by downregulating the activities of SOD/CAT/GPX, reducing GSH levels, and decreasing both HO-1 mRNA expression and activity, along with Nrft mRNA expression. We subsequently found that VN boosted the expression of p38 MAPK, Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA, and caspase-3/-9 mRNA and activity in A549 cells. Molecular docking analysis revealed strong binding affinity between VN and p38 MAPK (-9.97 kcal/mol) near the ATP-binding site (Asp-150 and Arg-149) and the activation loop (Gly-170 and Leu-171) facilitated by hydrophobic as well as hydrogen bond interactions. The fluorescence spectroscopy analysis demonstrated that the spontaneous interaction between p38 MAPK and one molecule VN occurred with logKb = 5.02 ± 0.18 and ΔG∘ = -28.49 ± 1.91 kJ/mol. Multi-spectroscopy measurements revealed minor alterations in the p38 MAPK conformation following interaction with VN. We hypothesize that the pro-apoptotic effect of VN on lung cancer cells may be mediated by two mechanisms: (1) ROS-dependent modulation of p38 pathway, and/or (2) direct ligand-receptor interaction between VN and critical residues near the ATP-binding pocket or activation loop of p38 MAPK, thereby stabilizing its catalytically active conformation. However, these preliminary findings necessitate further experimental validation and confirmation in subsequent studies.

Natural sesquiterpene lactones in prostate cancer therapy: mechanisms and sources

Prostate cancer is a condition characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells inside the prostate gland, part of the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the second largest cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. A novel approach to treating advanced Prostate cancer has emerged, attributable to the enhanced effectiveness of new pharmacological agents sourced from natural origins and this has led to increased rates of global existence and progression-free survival. Sesquiterpene lactones and their derivatives are now used worldwide to create and manufacture innovative cancer therapeutics. A thorough search was performed according to PRISMA guidelines in SciMed, PubMed, and Google Scholar, focusing on publications published from 1999 to 2024. The safety, efficacy, and bioactivity of sesquiterpene lactones must be evaluated via clinical trials, in vitro studies, and in vivo research and data was rigorously gathered and validated to verify its accuracy and usefulness. Prostate cancer may be treated far more effectively using naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone molecules. The most prominent sesquiterpene lactones identified were artemisinin, alantolactone, costunolide, helenalin, cynaropicrin, parthenolide, and inuviscolide, which are originated from botanical sources like Ferula penninervis, Tanacetum argenteum, Artemisia kopetdaghensis, Cichorium intybus, Carpesium divaricatum, and Leptocarpha rivularis. Numerous studies indicated that sesquiterpene lactones may treat cancer by modifying many cellular signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK, JNK, NF-κB, TNF-α, and STAT3. Sesquiterpene lactones were shown to be significant in suppressing the proliferation of prostate cancer cell lines (DU-145, PC-3, LNCaP, MR49F, and BPH-1) in both laboratory and clinical settings.

Design, synthesis, molecular modeling, and biological evaluations of novel chalcone based 4-Nitroacetophenone derivatives as potent anticancer agents targeting EGFR-TKD

A series of chalcone-based 4-Nitroacetophenone derivatives were designed and synthesized by the single-step condensation method. These compounds were identified by 1H NMR,13C NMR, MS, and FTIR analysis. Further, the derivatives were evaluated against four cancer cell lines H1299, MCF-7, HepG2, and K526. The IC50 value of potent compounds NCH-2, NCH-4, NCH-5, NCH-6, NCH-8, and NCH-10 was 4.5-11.4 μM in H1299, 4.3-15.7 μM in MCF-7, 2.7-4.1 μM in HepG2 and 4.9-19.7 μM in K562. To assess the toxicity against healthy cells all potent molecules were evaluated against the HEK-293T cell line, and IC50 values exhibited by NCH-2, and NCH-3 were 77.8, 74.3, and other molecules showed IC50 values > 100 μM. The EGFR expression was determined by using rabbit anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody and significant EGFR expression was knocked down observed in H1299 treated with NCH-10 as well as erlotinib. The underlying mechanism behind cell death was investigated through bioinformatics. First, the molecules were optimized and docked to the binding site of the EGFR kinase domain. The best complexes were simulated for 100-ns and compounds NCH-2, NCH-4, and NCH-10 achieved stability similar to the erlotinib bound kinase domain. The free energy binding (ΔGbind) of NCH-10 was found to be more negative -226.616 ± 2.148 kJ/mol calculated by Molecular Mechanics Poisson Boltzmann's Surface Area (MM-PBSA) method. Both in vitro and in silico results conclude that the present class of chalcone-based 4-Nitroacetophenone derivatives are potent anti-cancer agents targeting EGFR-TKD and are 39 folds more effective against H1299, MCF-7, HepG2, and K562 carcinoma cell lines than healthy HEK-293T cell lines.

Sesquiterpene lactones from Carpesium abrotanoides L. fruits: characterization and bioactivity profiling

Carpesium abrotanoides L. fruit serves as a key anthelmintic remedy in herbal medicine of China. As a continuation of previous research, two undescribed sesquiterpene lactones, carpeabrolactones A and B (1 and 2), and four known sesquiterpenoids (3-6) were obtained from the dichloromethane extract of fruits. The structures were established through sufficient spectral data examination and ECD calculation. Compound 3 displayed moderate anti-influenza A (H3N2) activity (IC50 = 37.04 μM). In addition, acetylcholinesterase (AchE) inhibitory effects of the isolates were also evaluated in vitro, but none of these presented obvious anti-AchE activities.

Dehydroleucodine exerts an antiproliferative effect on human Burkitt's lymphoma Daudi cells via SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis

Background

Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) is a rare, highly aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma known for rapid proliferation. While most patients respond well to intensive chemotherapy, those who are older, have comorbidities, or develop therapy resistance show limited outcomes.

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the in vitro anti-tumor activity of dehydroleucodine (DhL), a novel plant-derived chemotherapeutic agent, against BL cells and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its effects.

Methods

A screening of 42 plant-derived small molecules identified DhL as a potent inhibitor of BL growth. We evaluated DhL's effects on cell cycle progression, apoptosis, and ferroptosis pathways using cell viability assays, flow cytometry, transcriptomic analysis, and validation experiments.

Results

DhL demonstrated robust and specific anti-proliferative effects against BL Daudi cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that DhL exerts its effects through cell cycle modulation, induction of apoptosis, and ferroptosis. Transcriptomic analysis identified SLC7A11 as a critical regulator of DhL-mediated ferroptosis, which was further validated experimentally.

Conclusion

DhL shows strong potential as a novel chemotherapeutic agent for BL treatment by targeting SLC7A11-mediated ferroptosis. Further investigation is warranted to confirm its efficacy and clinical utility in diverse BL patient populations.

EM-12, a natural sesquiterpene lactone extracted from Elephantopus mollis, promotes cancer cell apoptosis by activating ER stress

The Elephantopus mollis H.B.K. contains various sesquiterpene lactones that have shown anti-proliferative and proapoptotic effects in various cancers, although the underlying mechanisms are partially understood. Inducing of excessive ER stress is a potential cancer therapeutic strategy. However, ER stress activator remain limited in current clinical applications. In this study, we identified that EM-12, an uncovered sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Elephantopus mollis H.B.K., as a BiP ATPase activity inhibitor through BiP ATPase activity assay in vitro. This molecule also exhibits significantly greater cytotoxicity in numerous ovarian cancer cell lines, including paclitaxel-resistance ovarian cancer cell line, compared to transformed ovarian epithelial cell lines. In addition, EM-12 exerts broad-spectrum cytotoxicity against various human cancer cell lines, including liver, nasopharyngeal, and breast cancer cell lines. Mechanically, EM-12 promotes ER stress and ER-stress-related apoptosis to against cancer cells through inhibiting BiP ATPase activity.

Sesquiterpene Lactones as Promising Anti-Glioblastoma Drug Candidates Exerting Complex Effects on Glioblastoma Cell Viability and Proneural-Mesenchymal Transition

Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive brain cancers, characterized by active infiltrative growth and high resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Sesquiterpene triterpenoids (STLs) and their semi-synthetic analogs are considered as a promising source of novel anti-tumor agents due to their low systemic toxicity and multi-target pharmacological effects on key processes associated with tumor progression. The current review aims to systematize the knowledge on the anti-glioblastoma potential of STLs accumulated over the last decade and to identify key processes in glioblastoma cells that are most susceptible to the action of STLs. An analysis of published data clearly demonstrated that STLs, which can successfully cross the blood-brain barrier, exert a complex inhibitory effect on glioblastoma cells through the induction of the "mitochondrial dysfunction-oxidative stress-apoptosis" axis, the inhibition of glucose metabolism and cell cycle phase transition, and the suppression of glioblastoma cell motility and invasion through the blockade of proneural-mesenchymal transition. Taken together, this review highlights the promising anti-glioblastoma potential of STLs, which are not only able to induce glioblastoma cell death, but also effectively affect their diffusive spread, and suggests the possible directions for further investigation of STLs in the context of glioblastoma to better understand their mechanism of action.

Plant sesquiterpene lactones

Sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) are a prominent group of plant secondary metabolites predominantly found in the Asteraceae family and have multiple ecological roles and medicinal applications. This review describes the evolutionary and ecological significance of STLs, highlighting their roles in plant defence mechanisms against herbivory and as phytotoxins, alongside their function as environmental signalling molecules. We also cover the substantial role of STLs in medicine and their mode of action in health and disease. We discuss the biosynthetic pathways and the various modifications that make STLs one of the most diverse groups of metabolites. Finally, we discuss methods for identifying and predicting STL biosynthesis pathways. This article is part of the theme issue 'The evolution of plant metabolism'.

Development and Preclinical Evaluation of 18F-Labeled PEGylated Sansalvamide A Decapeptide for Noninvasive Evaluation of Hsp90 Status in Pancreas Cancer

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a promising target for cancer therapy and imaging. Accurate detection of Hsp90 levels in tumors via noninvasive PET imaging might be beneficial for management. To achieve this, the precursor compound Dimer-Sansalvamide A (Dimer-San A) was PEGylated and modified by conjugating it with the bifunctional chelator 1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (NOTA). The 18F-labeled PEGylated Dimer-SanA decapeptide (18F-PEGylated San A) was completed within 30 min using a two-step process. In vitro stability and specificity were assessed, including competition studies with the Hsp90 inhibitor 17-allylamino-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG). MicroPET imaging was performed on PL45 tumor-bearing mice to evaluate probe accumulation and tumor-to-muscle ratios. Biodistribution studies determined the route of excretion. The probe resulted in a radiochemical yield of 23.11% with a purity exceeding 95%. In vitro, 18F-PEGylated San A exhibited high stability and selectively accumulated in Hsp90-positive PL45 cells, with binding effectively blocked by the Hsp90 inhibitor 17AAG, confirming its specificity. MicroPET imaging of PL45 tumor-bearing mice showed significant probe accumulation in tumor tissues at 1 and 2 h postinjection (4.06 ± 0.30 and 3.72 ± 0.61%ID/g, respectively), with optimal tumor-to-muscle ratios observed at 2 h postinjection (6.09 ± 1.92). While 18F-PEGylated San A demonstrates enhanced water solubility, as indicated by increased kidney uptake relative to liver accumulation. The study successfully incorporated PEG units to create the novel probe 18F-PEGylated San A targeting to Hsp90 without affecting its targeting capability, aimed at improving the pharmacokinetics and PET imaging of Hsp90 expression noninvasively.

Natural products as inhibitors against pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and invasion: possible mechanisms

Pancreatic cancer is one of the gastrointestinal tumors with the lowest survival rate and the worst prognosis. At the time of diagnosis, the majority of patients have missed the opportunity for radical surgical resection and opt for chemotherapy as their primary treatment choice. And drug resistance emerges during the application of the most widely used chemotherapeutic regimens such as modified FOLFIRINOX regimen, gemcitabine monotherapy or 5-Fluorouracil combination therapy, which further reduces the therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, it is urgent to explore better treatment strategies for pancreatic cancer. In recent years, more and more studies have found that natural products have significant anti-pancreatic cancer properties. In this paper, we reviewed the possible mechanisms by which natural products inhibit the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, including the possible mechanisms of targeting the inhibition of the growth and proliferation regulatory pathways of pancreatic cancer cells, inducing apoptosis and autophagy of pancreatic cancer cells, inhibiting the EMT process of pancreatic cancer cells, and inhibiting the angiogenesis of pancreatic cancer. Meanwhile, natural products have also hindered the progress of their basic and clinical research due to the complexity of their composition and the limitation of biological extraction technology. Further exploration of the specific molecular mechanisms of natural products to inhibit the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells, optimization of purification and preparation techniques, and enrichment of basic and clinical trials to verify their efficacy and safety may be the future direction of natural products in the field of anti-pancreatic cancer research.

Conjugates of 3,5-Bis(arylidene)-4-piperidone and Sesquiterpene Lactones Have an Antitumor Effect via Resetting the Metabolic Phenotype of Cancer Cells

In recent years, researchers have often encountered the significance of the aberrant metabolism of tumor cells in the pathogenesis of malignant neoplasms. This phenomenon, known as the Warburg effect, provides a number of advantages in the survival of neoplastic cells, and its application is considered a potential strategy in the search for antitumor agents. With the aim of developing a promising platform for designing antitumor therapeutics, we synthesized a library of conjugates of 3,5-bis(arylidene)-4-piperidone and sesquiterpene lactones. To gain insight into the determinants of the biological activity of the prepared compounds, we showed that the conjugates of 3,5-bis(arylidene)-4-piperidone and sesquiterpene lactones, which are cytotoxic agents, demonstrate selective activity toward a number of tumor cell lines with glycolysis-inhibiting ability. Moreover, the results of molecular and in silico screening allowed us to identify these compounds as potential inhibitors of the pyruvate kinase M2 oncoprotein, which is the rate-determining enzyme of glycolysis. Thus, the results of our work indicate that the synthesized conjugates of 3,5-bis(arylidene)-4-piperidone and sesquiterpene lactones can be considered a promising platform for designing selective cytotoxic agents against the glycolysis process, which opens new possibilities for researchers involved in the search for antitumor therapeutics among compounds containing piperidone platforms.

Effects of Smallanthus sonchifolius Flour on Metabolic Parameters: A Systematic Review

Smallanthus sonchifolius, popularly known as yacon, is a member of the Asteraceae family. Due to its medicinal and edible value, yacon is consumed by different populations. Yacon is unique due to its high fructo-oligosaccharide and inulin content, as well as flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, and phenolic acids. Roots can be used to produce flour, which is less perishable and can be applied in various industrial products. This systematic review focuses on the effects of yacon flour on metabolic parameters. PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were consulted, and PRISMA guidelines were followed in the selection of the studies. In total, 526 articles were found in the databases, and of these, only 28 full texts were eligible for inclusion. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, seven studies were finally included. The results showed that the use of yacon flour can reduce glycemia, HbA1c, advanced glycation ends, plasma lipids, body fat mass, body weight, and waist circumference and improve intestinal microbiota and the antioxidant status. Further exploration of the effects of yacon flour is warranted, and additional clinical trials are necessary to determine the optimal daily consumption levels required to assist in improving metabolic parameters.

A review of natural products and small-molecule therapeutics acting on central nervous system malignancies: Approaches for drug development, targeting pathways, clinical trials, and challenges

In 2021, the World Health Organization released the fifth edition of the central nervous system (CNS) tumor classification. This classification uses histopathology and molecular pathogenesis to group tumors into more biologically and molecularly defined entities. The prognosis of brain cancer, particularly malignant tumors, has remained poor worldwide, approximately 308,102 new cases of brain and other CNS tumors were diagnosed in the year 2020, with an estimated 251,329 deaths. The cost and time-consuming nature of studies to find new anticancer agents makes it necessary to have well-designed studies. In the present study, the pathways that can be targeted for drug development are discussed in detail. Some of the important cellular origins, signaling, and pathways involved in the efficacy of bioactive molecules against CNS tumorigenesis or progression, as well as prognosis and common approaches for treatment of different types of brain tumors, are reviewed. Moreover, different study tools, including cell lines, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial challenges, are discussed. In addition, in this article, natural products as one of the most important sources for finding new chemotherapeutics were reviewed and over 700 reported molecules with efficacy against CNS cancer cells are gathered and classified according to their structure. Based on the clinical trials that have been registered, very few of these natural or semi-synthetic derivatives have been studied in humans. The review can help researchers understand the involved mechanisms and design new goal-oriented studies for drug development against CNS malignancies.

Psilostachyin C reduces malignant properties of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by blocking CREBBP-mediated transcription of GATAD2B

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Many herbal medicines and their bioactive compounds have shown anti-tumor properties. This study was conducted to examine the effect of psilostachyin C (PSC), a sesquiterpenoid lactone isolated from Artemisia vulgaris L., in the malignant properties of HCC cells. CCK-8, flow cytometry, wound healing, and Transwell assays revealed that 25 μM PSC treatment significantly suppressed proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration, and invasion of two HCC cell lines (Hep 3B and Huh7) while promoting cell apoptosis. Bioinformatics prediction suggests CREB binding protein (CREBBP) as a promising target of PSC. CREBBP activated transcription of GATA zinc finger domain containing 2B (GATAD2B) by binding to its promoter. CREBBP and GATAD2B were highly expressed in clinical HCC tissues and the acquired HCC cell lines, but their expression was reduced by PSC. Either upregulation of CREBBP or GATAD2B restored the malignant properties of HCC cells blocked by PSC. Collectively, this evidence demonstrates that PSC pocessess anti-tumor functions in HCC cells by blocking CREBBP-mediated transcription of GATAD2B.

Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of specialized metabolites isolated from Centaurea hyalolepis

The discovery of plant-derived compounds that are able to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens is an urgent demand. Over years, Centaurea hyalolepis attracted considerable attention because of its beneficial medical properties. Phytochemical analyses revealed that Centaurea plant species contain several metabolites, such as sesquiterpene lactones (STLs), essential oils, flavonoids, alkaloids, and lignans.The organic extract of C. hyalolepis plant, collected in Palestine, showed significant antimicrobial properties towards a panel of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial strains when the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values were evaluated by broth microdilution assays. A bio-guided fractionation of the active extract via multiple steps of column and thin layer chromatography allowed us to obtain three main compounds. The isolated metabolites were identified as the STLs cnicin, 11β,13-dihydrosalonitenolide and salonitenolide by spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses. Cnicin conferred the strongest antimicrobial activity among the identified compounds. Moreover, the evaluation of its antibiofilm activity by biomass assays through crystal violet staining revealed almost 30% inhibition of biofilm formation in the case of A. baumannii ATCC 17878 strain. Furthermore, the quantification of carbohydrates and proteins present in the extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) revealed the ability of cnicin to significantly perturb biofilm structure. Based on these promising results, further investigations might open interesting perspectives to its applicability in biomedical field to counteract multidrug resistant infections.

Enhancing Ocular Surface in Dry Eye Disease Patients: A Clinical Evaluation of a Topical Formulation Containing Sesquiterpene Lactone Helenalin

The aim of this work was to assess the tolerability, safety, and efficacy of an ophthalmic topical formulation containing helenalin from Arnica montana and hyaluronic acid 0.4% (HA) in patients with mild-to-moderate Dry Eye Disease (DED) exhibiting positive Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) test results. Tolerability and safety were evaluated in 24 healthy subjects. Participants were instructed to apply one drop of the formulation three times a day in the study eye, for 2 weeks, followed by a clinical follow-up of 21 days. Efficacy was studied in 48 DED patients randomized into Study (Group 1/receiving the studied formulation) or Control (Group 2/Receiving HA 0.4% eye lubricant) groups for 1 month. Assessments included an MMP-9 positivity test, conjunctival impression cytology (CIC), Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), non-invasive film tear breakup time (NIBUT), non-invasive average breakup time (NIAvg-BUT), ocular surface staining, Schirmer's test, and meibomiography. A crossover design with an additional 1-month follow-up was applied to both groups. Healthy subjects receiving the studied formulation exhibited good tolerability and no adverse events. Regarding the efficacy study, Group 1 exhibited a statistically significant reduction in the MMP-9 positivity rate compared to Group 2 (p < 0.001). Both Group 1 and Group 2 exhibited substantial improvements in OSDI and NIBUT scores (p < 0.001). However, Group 1 demonstrated a significant improvement in NI-Avg-BUT and Schirmer's test scores (p < 0.001), whereas Group 2 did not (p > 0.05). Finally, after the crossover, the proportion of MMP-9-positive subjects in Group 1 increased from 25% to 91.6%, while Group 2 showed a significant decrease from 87.5% to 20.8%. Overall, the topical formulation containing sesquiterpene helenalin from Arnica montana and hyaluronic acid was well tolerated and exhibited a favorable safety profile. Our formulation reduces DED symptomatology and modulates the ocular surface inflammatory process; this is evidenced by the enhancement of CIC, the improvement of DED-related tear film status, and the reduction of the MMP-9 positivity rate.

Natural Products for Drug Discovery in the 21st Century: Innovations for Novel Therapeutics

Natural products (NPs) from plants, fungi, animals, and microorganisms have historically played important roles in drug discovery [...].

Isolation and NMR Scaling Factors for the Structure Determination of Lobatolide H, a Flexible Sesquiterpene from Neurolaena lobata

A new flexible germacranolide (1, lobatolide H) was isolated from the aerial parts of Neurolaena lobata. The structure elucidation was performed by classical NMR experiments and DFT NMR calculations. Altogether, 80 theoretical level combinations with existing ¹³C NMR scaling factors were tested, and the best performing ones were applied on 1. ¹H and ¹³C NMR scaling factors were also developed for two combinations utilizing known exomethylene containing derivatives, and the results were complemented by homonuclear coupling constant (J_HH) and TDDFT-ECD calculations to elucidate the stereochemistry of 1. Lobatolide H possessed remarkable antiproliferative activity against human cervical tumor cell lines with different HPV status (SiHa and C33A), induced cell cycle disturbance and exhibited a substantial antimigratory effect in SiHa cells.

Lessons learned from the discovery and development of the sesquiterpene lactones in cancer therapy and prevention

INTRODUCTION

Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are one of the most diverse bioactive secondary metabolites found in plants and exhibit a broad range of therapeutic properties . SLs have been showing promising potential in cancer clinical trials, and the molecular mechanisms underlying their anticancer potential are being uncovered. Recent evidence also points to a potential utility of SLs in cancer prevention.

AREAS COVERED

This work evaluates SLs with promising anticancer potential based on cell, animal, and clinical models: Artemisinin, micheliolide, thapsigargin dehydrocostuslactone, arglabin, parthenolide, costunolide, deoxyelephantopin, alantolactone, isoalantolactone, atractylenolide 1, and xanthatin as well as their synthetic derivatives. We highlight actionable molecular targets and biological mechanisms underlying the anticancer therapeutic properties of SLs. This is complemented by a unique assessment of SL mechanisms of action that can be exploited in cancer prevention. We also provide insights into structure-activity and pharmacokinetic properties of SLs and their potential use in combination therapies.

EXPERT OPINION

We extract seven major lessons learned and present evidence-based solutions that can circumvent some scientific limitations or logistic impediments in SL anticancer research. SLs continue to be at the forefront of cancer drug discovery and are worth a joint interdisciplinary effort in order to leverage their potential in cancer therapy and prevention.