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Planta Med 2003; 69(2): 97-108
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-37718
Review
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Recent Development of Antitumor Agents from Chinese Herbal Medicines; Part I. Low Molecular Compounds

Weici Tang1 , Ingrid Hemm1 , Barbara Bertram2
  • 1Division of Food Chemistry and Environmental Toxicology, Department of Chemistry, University of Kaiserslautern, Germany
  • 2Division of Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg, Germany
In memory of Prof. Dr. Dietrich Schmähl, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Heidelberg
Further Information

Publication History

Received: May 27, 2002

Accepted: November 16, 2002

Publication Date:
07 March 2003 (online)

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Abstract

A series of low molecular compounds from Chinese herbal medicines which have proved to be, in some cases, highly effective especially in tumor therapy, is listed here (part II will deal with high molecular compounds, to be published in the next issue). In contrast to synthetic agents used in cancer chemotherapy, these natural compounds have relatively low toxicities. Many of the clinical studies referred to in this paper have been carried out on Asians. Because genetic factors influence enzyme levels, sometimes leading to striking differences in metabolism and pharmacokinetics of drugs, results obtained in clinical studies carried out in China are not 100 % transferable to the European population. The mechanisms of action of these compounds are manifold, consisting of reactions with DNA bases, intercalation in DNA, inhibition of topoisomerases, inhibition of protein kinases, induction of apoptosis etc. Some of the compounds have interesting structural features, that may be used as lead structures for the development of further antitumor agents.

Key words

Antitumor agents - Chinese herbal medicines - low molecular natural compounds - traditional Chinese medicine

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Dr. Barbara Bertram

Toxicology and Cancer Risk Factors

Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum

Im Neuenheimer Feld 280

69120 Heidelberg

Germany

Email: b.bertram@dkfz.de

Fax: +49 6221-423031

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