Molecular targets and mechanisms of anti-cancer effects of withanolides

Zhiruo Zhang; Yueying Yang; Yang Xu; Yang Liu; Hua Li; Lixia Chen

doi:10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110698

Molecular targets and mechanisms of anti-cancer effects of withanolides

Chem Biol Interact. 2023 Oct 1:384:110698. doi: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110698. Epub 2023 Sep 9.

Authors

Zhiruo Zhang¹, Yueying Yang¹, Yang Xu¹, Yang Liu¹, Hua Li², Lixia Chen³

Affiliations

¹ Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China.
² Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China; Institute of Structural Pharmacology & TCM Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350122, China. Electronic address: 2022041@fjtcm.edu.cn.
³ Wuya College of Innovation, Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design & Discovery, Ministry of Education, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, 110016, China. Electronic address: syzyclx@163.com.

PMID: 37690745
DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110698

Abstract

Withanolides are a class of natural products with a steroidal lactone structure that exhibit a broad spectrum of anti-cancer effects. To date, several studies have shown that their possible mechanisms in cancer development and progression are associated with the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Withanolides can also attenuate inflammatory responses, as well as modulate the genomic instability and energy metabolism of cancer cells. In addition, they may improve the safety and efficacy of cancer treatments as adjuvants to traditional cancer therapeutics. Herein, we summarize the molecular targets and mechanisms of withanolides in different cancers, as well as their current clinical studies on them.

Keywords: Anti-cancer; Mechanisms; Molecular targets; Withanolides.

Publication types

Review