Emodin: Anticancer Agent

Cancer is a serious health issue that remains a significant cause of mortality around the world. Psychosocial support, surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are common cancer treatments. However, because of the rising rate of cancer-related mortality and the adverse or toxic side effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy, new anticancer compounds obtained from nature, particularly plants, are currently being researched. Phytochemicals, which are naturally occurring plant substances, are important sources for new drugs and cancer treatment. Phytochemicals are selective in their actions, acting only on tumour cells and not on healthy cells. These phytochemicals act by modulating molecular pathways involved in cancer growth and progression. Anthraquinones are a class of phytochemicals that have a wide range of biological functions as well as anticancer action. Emodin is a natural anthraquinone derivative found in Rheum palmatum, Polygonum cuspidatum, Polygonum multiflorum and among other commonly used Chinese medicinal plants. Evidence indicates that emodin has a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, including hepatoprotective, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Emodin has also been reported to have anticancer properties in a variety of malignancies, including lung, liver, and pancreatic tumours. Anticancer properties of emodin have been studied in a variety of biological pathways. This chapter aims to comprehensively summarize the anti-proliferative and anti-carcinogenic properties of emodin.