Antileukemic Properties of Sesquiterpene Lactones: A Systematic Review

Author(s):

Elaine da Silva Castro, Livia Azeredo Alves Antunes, Jonathas Felipe Revoredo Lobo, Norman Arthur Ratcliffe, Ricardo Moreira Borges, Leandro Rocha, Patricia Burth and Lidia Maria Fonte Amorim*   Pages 323 - 334 ( 12 )

Abstract:

This review summarizes the reported molecular mechanisms underlying the antileukemic property of Sesquiterpene Lactones (SLs). This systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database and conducted following the PRISMA Statements. The MeSH terms, Sesquiterpenes, Lactones and Leukemia were used in four databases (Pubmed, Web of Science, Scopus and Bireme). There were 281 studies selected, but after exclusions, due to replication (n = 172) or not following PECOS criteria (n = 24), 148 studies remained. Of the 148 articles, only 22 were submitted to quality assessment and were scored in high level if more than two techniques, to elucidate antileukemic properties, were described, and then data were extracted. The studies mostly used human leukemia cell lines including primary and established cells, with or without chemotherapy resistance. The SLs used were obtained principally from plants. The antileukemic properties of SLs were extracted from 22 high level studies. They included cell death induction, mainly by apoptosis, as well as cell differentiation, cell cycle disruption, leukemia cancer stem cell growth inhibition and NF-κB pathway inhibition; the latter is a promising therapeutic target for lymphoid malignancies. We concluded that, in spite of the necessity of better toxicological profile characterization of SLs, the antileukemic properties of these compounds support the proposal that the SLs are promising candidates for the treatment of leukemia.

Keywords:

Natural products, sesquiterpene lactones, leukemia, apoptosis, differentiation, cell cycle, cancer stem cell, NF-κB.

Affiliation:

Molecular and Cellular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Specific Training Department, School of Dentistry, Fluminense Federal University, Nova Friburgo, Natural Products Research Institute, Rio de Janeiro Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Post-Graduate Program in Science and Biotechnology, Biology Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói, Brazil and College of Science, Swansea University, Wales, Natural Products Research Institute, Rio de Janeiro Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Laboratory of Natural Products Technology, School of Pharmacy, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Molecular and Cellular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, Molecular and Cellular Biology Department, Biology Institute, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi

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