title: Plant-based anticancer molecules: a chemical and biological profile of some important leads.
abstract: A number of natural products, with diverse chemical structures, have been isolated as anticancer agents. Several potential lead molecules such as camptothecin, vincristine, vinblastine, taxol, podophyllotoxin, combretastatins, etc. have been isolated from plants and many of them have been modified to yield better analogues for activity, toxicity or solubility. Several successful molecules like topotecan, irinotecan, taxotere, etoposide, teniposide, etc. also have emerged as drugs upon modification of these natural leads and many more are yet to come. In this review, the authors have focused on four important anticancer leads, that is, camptothecin, taxol, combretastatin A-4 and podophyllotoxin. Their chemistry, structure and activity relationships, biological activities, modes of action, analogue synthesis and future prospects have been discussed.
authors.affiliation: Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP), P.O. CIMAP, Lucknow 226 015, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vandana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.forename: Arvind Singh
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Negi
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Suman P S
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Khanuja
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D013267:Stilbenes; C058728:fosbretabulin; D011034:Podophyllotoxin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002166:Camptothecin