title: Anti-cancer properties of terpenoids isolated from Rhizoma Curcumae--a review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rhizoma Curcumae is a popular type of traditional Chinese medicine whose essential oils are widely used in the treatment of cancer in China. This review aims to systematically summarize and analyze the anti-cancer properties of terpenoids, the main components of essential oils in Rhizoma Curcumae, and thus enable the development of new anti-cancer drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Information on the recent progress of anti-cancer studies on terpenoids isolated from Rhizoma Curcumae, including β-elemene, δ-elemene, furanodiene, furanodienone, curcumol, and germacrone, was gathered and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among these terpenoids, β-elemene is the most widely studied, whereas δ-elemene, furanodiene, furanodienone, curcumol, and germacrone have just recently attracted the attention of researchers. The anti-cancer effects of these terpenoids are related to the retardation of cell cycle arrest, the induction of apoptosis, and the inhibition of metastasis or tissue invasion, among others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most studies have focused on the in vitro data, and in vivo data is urgently needed. Further insight into the anti-cancer activity and the molecular basis of these compounds, combined with efforts in pharmaceutical chemistry and/or pharmaceutics, will potentially enable the development of new anti-cancer agents.
authors: State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Av. Padre Toma's Pereira S.J., Taipa, Macao SAR, PR China.
authors: Jin-Jian
authors: JJ
authors: Lu
authors: Yuan-Ye
authors: YY
authors: Dang
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Huang
authors: Wen-Shan
authors: WS
authors: Xu
authors: Xiu-Ping
authors: XP
authors: Chen
authors: Yi-Tao
authors: YT
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D030024:Curcuma; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D027343:Rhizome; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D013729:Terpenes