Plants as a source of anti-cancer agents.
Plant-derived compounds have been an important source of several clinically useful anti-cancer agents. These include vinblastine, vincristine, the camptothecin derivatives, topotecan and irinotecan, etoposide, derived from epipodophyllotoxin, and paclitaxel (taxol A number of promising new agents are in clinical development based on selective activity against cancer-related molecular targets, including flavopiridol and combretastin A4 phosphate, while some agents which failed in earlier clinical studies are stimulating renewed interest.
Cragg
Gordon M
GM
Natural Products Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, P.O. Box B, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA. cragg@mail.nih.gov
Newman
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic