Frontiers in Pharmacology (Jan 2021)

Tanshinone IIA: A Review of its Anticancer Effects

  • Zhong‐ying Fang,
  • Zhong‐ying Fang,
  • Miao Zhang,
  • Jia-ning Liu,
  • Xue Zhao,
  • Yong-qing Zhang,
  • Lei Fang,
  • Lei Fang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.611087
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

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Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a pharmacologically lipophilic active constituent isolated from the roots and rhizomes of the Chinese medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). Tan IIA is currently used in China and other neighboring countries to treat patients with cardiovascular system, diabetes, apoplexy, arthritis, sepsis, and other diseases. Recently, it was reported that tan IIA could have a wide range of antitumor effects on several human tumor cell lines, but the research of the mechanism of tan IIA is relatively scattered in cancer. This review aimed to summarize the recent advances in the anticancer effects of tan IIA and to provide a novel perspective on clinical use of tan IIA.

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