Parthenolide: From plant shoots to cancer roots

Akram Ghantous, Ansam Sinjab, Zdenko Herceg, Nadine Darwiche

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

255 Scopus citations

Abstract

Parthenolide (PTL), a sesquiterpene lactone (SL) originally purified from the shoots of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium), has shown potent anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. It is currently being tested in cancer clinical trials. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies of parthenolide revealed key chemical properties required for biological activities and epigenetic mechanisms, and led to the derivatization of an orally bioavailable analog, dimethylamino-parthenolide (DMAPT). Parthenolide is the first small molecule found to be selective against cancer stem cells (CSC), which it achieves by targeting specific signaling pathways and killing cancer from its roots. In this review, we highlight the exciting journey of parthenolide, from plant shoots to cancer roots.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)894-905
Number of pages12
JournalDrug Discovery Today
Volume18
Issue number17-18
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2013

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery

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