title: Triterpenoids of marine origin as anti-cancer agents.
abstract: Triterpenoids are the most abundant secondary metabolites present in marine organisms, such as marine sponges, sea cucumbers, marine algae and marine-derived fungi. A large number of triterpenoids are known to exhibit cytotoxicity against a variety of tumor cells, as well as anticancer efficacy in preclinical animal models. In this review efforts have been taken to review the structural features and the potential use of triterpenoids of marine origin to be used in the pharmaceutical industry as potential anti-cancer drug leads.
authors.affiliation: Marine Bioprocess Research Center, Pukyong National University, Busan 608-737, Korea. lyxycg@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Yong-Xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: S W A
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Himaya
authors.forename: Se-Kwon
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011161:Porifera / Q000737:chemistry; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D014315:Triterpenes