Natural Sesquiterpenoids as Cytotoxic Anticancer Agents

Q.-F.      Chen; Z.-P.      Liu; F.-P.      Wang

doi:10.2174/138955711797655399

Abstract

Sesquiterpenoids are a group of naturally occurring 15-carbon isoprenoid compounds that are mainly found in higher plants, microorganism and marine life. Many of them provided encouraging leads for chemotherapeutics. In this review, the sesquiterpenoids are classified according to the ring numbering system and the functional groups presented in the core structures as acyclic, mono-, bi-, and tricyclic derivatives, and a current overview of sesquiterpenoids as potential cytotoxic anticancer agents is provided.

Keywords: Anticancer, cancer, cytotoxicity, natural products, sesquiterpenoids, tumor, microorganism, chemotherapeutics, ED50, IC50, EC50, GI50