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Title

Artemisinin's molecular symphony: illuminating pathways for cancer therapy.

Authors

Jhade, Sandeep Kumar; Kalidoss, Karthik; Pathak, Poonam Kumari; Shrivastava, Rahul

Abstract

Artemisinin (ART), a sesquiterpene lactone derived from the sweet wormwood plant (Artemisia annua), exhibits potent anti-malarial and anti-microbial properties, with emerging evidence suggesting its anticancer potential. This review delves into the molecular intricacies underlying ART's anticancer effects, elucidating its modulation of cell signaling pathways, induction of apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibition of angiogenesis crucial for cancer progression. Additionally, the review highlights ART's impact on oxidative stress and DNA damage within cancer cells, along with its potential synergistic effects with conventional cancer drugs to mitigate side effects. Despite notable strides, further elucidation of ART's mechanisms and clinical validation across diverse cancer types are necessary. Conclusively, this review provides a brief overview of the molecular foundation that makes ART a promising candidate for future cancer therapeutic strategies and emphasises the need for further research to fully comprehend the molecular complexity of ART-mediated cancer therapies.

Subjects

MEDICAL sciences; LIFE sciences; ARTEMISIA annua; ANTINEOPLASTIC agents; CYTOLOGY

Publication

Molecular Biology Reports, 2024, Vol 52, Issue 1, p1

ISSN

0301-4851

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1007/s11033-024-10202-7