Published in:
Open Access
01-06-2013 | Review Article
Anti-tumor action of trichosanthin, a type 1 ribosome-inactivating protein, employed in traditional Chinese medicine: a mini review
Authors:
Ou Sha, Junfei Niu, Tzi-Bun Ng, Eric Yu-Pang Cho, Xiaoyuan Fu, Wenqi Jiang
Published in:
Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology
|
Issue 6/2013
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Abstract
Trichosanthin (TCS) as a midterm abortifacient medicine has been used clinically in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Additionally, TCS manifests a host of pharmacological properties, for instance, anti-HIV and anti-tumor activities. TCS has been reported to inhibit cell growth of a diversity of cancers, including cervical cancer, choriocarcinoma, and leukemia/lymphoma, etc. This article purported to review the various anti-tumor activities of TCS and the mechanism of apoptosis it induced in these tumor cells. These research progresses provide an insight into cancer research and treatment as well as disclose new pharmacological properties of the ancient but popular Chinese medicine.