title: A review of the anticancer potential of the antimalarial herbal cryptolepis sanguinolenta and its major alkaloid cryptolepine.
abstract: Cryptolepis sanguinolenta (Lindl.) Schltr (Periplocaceae), has a longstanding traditional use in the treatment of malaria in the West African region. Recent evidence suggests that the aqueous extract from the roots and the major alkaloid from the plant, cryptolepine, have prospects as cancer chemotherapeutic agents on account of their potent cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the cytotoxic activities of the agents. However, emerging evidence from their anti-inflammatory actions suggest that the mechanism of the cytotoxicity may be closely related to its anti-inflammatory activity. This review looks at the mechanisms of cryptolepis-induced cytotoxicity, its link with inflammation and its potential as anticancer agent. The elucidation of these interwoven mechanisms may be useful in the development of cryptolepine or other analogues as new anticancer agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ansah
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Mensah
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D031106:Cryptolepis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D026121:Indole Alkaloids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011804:Quinolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D016328:NF-kappa B; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011804:Quinolines; C024015:cryptolepine