Acanthopanax senticosus: Photochemistry and Anticancer Potential

Am J Chin Med. 2016;44(8):1543-1558. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X16500865. Epub 2016 Nov 16.

Abstract

Acanthopanax senticosus (previously classified as Eleutherococcus senticosus), commonly known as Ciwujia or Siberian Ginseng, is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), widely used for its high medicinal value, such as antifatigue, anti-inflammation, antistress, anti-ulcer and cardiovascular functions, in China, Korea, Japan and Russia. In the past decades, researchers worldwide have conducted systematic investigations on this herb, from chemistry to pharmacology, and a large number of chemical components have been characterized for their significant pharmacological effects. However, reports about the anticancer effects of this plant had been rare until recently, when considerable pharmacological experiments both in vitro and in vivo were conducted to study the anticancer effects of this herb. A. senticosus has been found to have inhibitory effects on malignant tumors, such as those in the lung and liver, suggesting that A. senticosus has potential to be developed as an effective anticancer drug. This paper reviews recent findings on the pharmacological properties of A. senticosus, with a focus on its anticancer effects.

Keywords: Acanthopanax senticosus; Anticancer; Ciwujia; Pharmacological Effects; Phytochemistry; Review; Siberian Ginseng; Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use*
  • Antioxidants
  • Coumarins / isolation & purification
  • Coumarins / pharmacology*
  • Coumarins / therapeutic use*
  • Dioxoles / isolation & purification
  • Dioxoles / pharmacology*
  • Dioxoles / therapeutic use*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Eleutherococcus / chemistry*
  • Glucosides / isolation & purification
  • Glucosides / pharmacology*
  • Glucosides / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Lignans / isolation & purification
  • Lignans / pharmacology*
  • Lignans / therapeutic use*
  • Medicine, Chinese Traditional
  • Mice
  • Phenylpropionates / isolation & purification
  • Phenylpropionates / pharmacology*
  • Phenylpropionates / therapeutic use*
  • Phytotherapy
  • Rats

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Antioxidants
  • Coumarins
  • Dioxoles
  • Glucosides
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Lignans
  • Phenylpropionates
  • isofraxidin
  • syringin
  • sesamin