Elemenes are a group of closely related naturalchemical compounds found in a variety of plants. The elemenes, which include α-, β-, γ-, and δ-elemene, arestructural isomers of each other and are classified assesquiterpenes. The elemenes contribute to the floral aromas of some plants,[1][2][3] and are used as pheromones by some insects.[4]
β-Elemene in particular has attracted scientific interest because of its prevalence in a variety of medicinal plants, such as theChinese medicinal herb Yu Jin (郁金,Curcuma wenyujin).[5] Experiments performedin vitro show that β-elemene acts as aRho kinase inhibitor,[6] and hasanti-proliferative effects toward somecancer cell types,[7][8][9][10] indicating the possibility of its use inchemotherapy.Clinical trials in China have been conducted in which benefits for cancer treatment have been reported, and bothliposome injection and oralemulsion forms of β-elemene have been approved by theChina Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) as anadjuvant therapy for use in the treatment of various cancers.[11] However, Western experts have been skeptical of claims for the safety and efficacy of β-elemene, with the trials being relatively small scale,[12] and theMemorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center stating that "human trials conducted so far are of poor quality".[13] ACochrane Review of the available literature concluded that "there is no evidence from randomised controlled trials to confirm or refute the effectiveness of elemene as a treatment for lung cancer".[14] A general review on beta elemene.[15]
^Wang J, Li H, Yao Y, Ren Y, Lin J, Hu J, et al. (July 2018). "β-Elemene Enhances GAP-43 Expression and Neurite Outgrowth by Inhibiting RhoA Kinase Activation in Rats with Spinal Cord Injury".Neuroscience.383:12–21.doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.04.045.PMID29751054.S2CID21735344.
^Yao YQ, Ding X, Jia YC, Huang CX, Wang YZ, Xu YH (June 2008). "Anti-tumor effect of beta-elemene in glioblastoma cells depends on p38 MAPK activation".Cancer Letters.264 (1):127–34.doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2008.01.049.PMID18442668.
^Wang G, Li X, Huang F, Zhao J, Ding H, Cunningham C, et al. (April 2005). "Antitumor effect of beta-elemene in non-small-cell lung cancer cells is mediated via induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death".Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.62 (7–8):881–93.doi:10.1007/s00018-005-5017-3.PMID15868411.S2CID34767648.
^Li X, Wang G, Zhao J, Ding H, Cunningham C, Chen F, et al. (April 2005). "Antiproliferative effect of beta-elemene in chemoresistant ovarian carcinoma cells is mediated through arrest of the cell cycle at the G2-M phase".Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.62 (7–8):894–904.doi:10.1007/s00018-005-5027-1.PMID15868412.S2CID20587371.
^Peng X, Zhao Y, Liang X, Wu L, Cui S, Guo A, Wang W (February 2006). "Assessing the quality of RCTs on the effect of beta-elemene, one ingredient of a Chinese herb, against malignant tumors".Contemporary Clinical Trials.27 (1):70–82.doi:10.1016/j.cct.2005.07.002.PMID16243588.
^Peng X, Zhao Y, Liang X, Wu L, Cui S, Guo A, Wang W (February 2006). "Assessing the quality of RCTs on the effect of beta-elemene, one ingredient of a Chinese herb, against malignant tumors".Contemporary Clinical Trials.27 (1):70–82.doi:10.1016/j.cct.2005.07.002.PMID16243588.
^Adio, A. M. (2009), (-)-trans-B-Elemene and related compounds: occurrence, synthesis, and anticancer activity,Tetrahedron, volume 65, issue 27, 5145-5159 |https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tet.2009.04.062
