title: Anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity and mechanism of chemopreventive compounds: ursolic acid derivatives.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer around the world, with high mortality rate. Currently, there is no effective drug for the therapy of HCC. Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural product which exists in various medicinal herbs and fruits, exhibiting multiple biological effects such as its outstanding anticancer and hepatoprotective activity, which has drawn many pharmacists' attention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper summarizes the current status of the hepatoprotective activity of UA analogues and explains the related mechanism, providing a clear direction for the development of novel anti-HCC drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  All of the data resources were derived from PubMed. By comparing the IC50values and analyzing the structure-activity relationships, we listed compounds with good pharmacological activity from the relevant literature, and summarized their anti-HCC mechanism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the database, 58 new UA derivatives possessing wonderful anticancer and hepatoprotective effects were listed, and the relevant anti-HCC mechanism were discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  UA's anti-HCC effect is the result of combined action of many mechanisms. These 58 new UA derivatives, particularly compounds 45 and 53, can be used as potential drugs for the treatment of liver cancer.
authors: a Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology , University of South China , Hengyang , China.|b Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study , Hengyang , China.
authors: Qiuxia
authors: Q
authors: Huang
authors: a Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology , University of South China , Hengyang , China.|b Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study , Hengyang , China.
authors: Hongfei
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: a Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology , University of South China , Hengyang , China.|b Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study , Hengyang , China.
authors: Yuyan
authors: Y
authors: Ren
authors: a Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology , University of South China , Hengyang , China.|b Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study , Hengyang , China.
authors: Zhe
authors: Z
authors: Wang
authors: a Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology , University of South China , Hengyang , China.|b Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study , Hengyang , China.|c Research Interest Group of Pharmacy , University of South China , Hengyang , China.
authors: Peiyu
authors: P
authors: Zeng
authors: a Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology , University of South China , Hengyang , China.|b Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study , Hengyang , China.|c Research Interest Group of Pharmacy , University of South China , Hengyang , China.
authors: Xuan
authors: X
authors: Li
authors: a Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology , University of South China , Hengyang , China.|b Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study , Hengyang , China.
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Wang
authors: a Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology , University of South China , Hengyang , China.|b Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study , Hengyang , China.
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014315:Triterpenes; D000097245:Ursolic Acid
keywords: HCC; mechanisms; structural modification; structure activity relationship