Page 59 - _NIPER-G Annual Report 2019-201

Research Area-9

Therapeutic Emergence of Rhein as a Potential Anticancer Drug: A Review of Its Molecular
Targets and Anticancer Properties (Collaboration with IIT Guwahati)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is the second-highest cause of
mortality in the world, and it kills nearly 9.6 million people annually. Besides the fatality of the
disease, poor prognosis, cost of conventional therapies, and associated side-effects add more
burden to patients, post-diagnosis. Therefore, the search for alternatives for the treatment of
cancer that are safe, multi-targeted, effective, and cost-effective has compelled us to go back
to ancient systems of medicine. Natural herbs and plant formulations are laden with a variety
of phytochemicals. One such compound is rhein, which is an anthraquinone derived from the
roots of Rheum spp. and Polygonum multiflorum. In ethnomedicine, these plants are used for
the treatment of inflammation, osteoarthritis, diabetes, and bacterial and helminthic infections.
Increasing evidence suggests that this compound can suppress breast cancer, cervical
cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, etc. in both in vitro and in vivo settings.
Recent studies have reported that this compound modulates different signaling cascades in
cancer cells and can prevent angiogenesis and progression of different types of cancers. The
present review highlights the cancer-preventing and therapeutic properties of rhein based on
the available literature, which will help to extend further research to establish the
chemoprotective and therapeutic roles of rhein compared to other conventional drugs. Future
pharmacokinetic and toxicological studies could support this compound as an effective
anticancer agent.
Henamayee S, Banik K, Sailo BL, Shabnam B, Harsha C, Srilakshmi S, VGM Naidu, Baek
SH, Ahn KS, Kunnumakkara AB. Therapeutic Emergence of Rhein as a Potential Anticancer
Drug: A Review of Its Molecular Targets and Anticancer Properties. Molecules. 2020
Jan;25(10):2278.

Graphical abstract

Figure : Anticancer efficacy of Rhein in different cancers.

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