Recent Advances in the Chemistry and Therapeutic Evaluation of Naturally Occurring and Synthetic Withanolides
Amandeep Singh,
Asif Raza,
Shantu Amin,
Chendil Damodaran,
Arun K. Sharma
Affiliations
Amandeep Singh
Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, CH72, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Asif Raza
Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, CH72, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Shantu Amin
Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, CH72, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Chendil Damodaran
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas AM University, College Station, TX 77842, USA
Arun K. Sharma
Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, CH72, Penn State College of Medicine, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
Natural products are a major source of biologically active compounds that make promising lead molecules for developing efficacious drug-like molecules. Natural withanolides are found in many flora and fauna, including plants, algae, and corals, that traditionally have shown multiple health benefits and are known for their anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-leishmaniasis, and many other medicinal properties. Structures of these withanolides possess a few reactive sites that can be exploited to design and synthesize more potent and safe analogs. In this review, we discuss the literature evidence related to the medicinal implications, particularly anticancer properties of natural withanolides and their synthetic analogs, and provide perspectives on the translational potential of these promising compounds.
