Elemene Explained

Elemenes are a group of closely related natural chemical compounds found in a variety of plants. The elemenes, which include α-, β-, γ-, and δ-elemene, are structural isomers of each other and are classified as sesquiterpenes. The elemenes contribute to the floral aromas of some plants,[1] [2] [3] and are used as pheromones by some insects.[4]

Applications

β-Elemene in particular has attracted scientific interest because of its prevalence in a variety of medicinal plants, such as the Chinese medicinal herb Yu Jin (郁金, Curcuma wenyujin).[5] Experiments performed in vitro show that β-elemene acts as a Rho kinase inhibitor,[6] and has anti-proliferative effects toward some cancer cell types,[7] [8] [9] [10] indicating the possibility of its use in chemotherapy. Clinical trials in China have been conducted in which benefits for cancer treatment have been reported, and both liposome injection and oral emulsion forms of β-elemene have been approved by the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) as an adjuvant 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 the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center stating that "human trials conducted so far are of poor quality".[13] A Cochrane 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]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Floral Compound: alpha-elemene . Pherobase.com.
  2. Web site: Floral Compound: delta-elemene . Pherobase.com.
  3. Web site: Floral Compound: gamma-elemene . Pherobase.com.
  4. Web site: Semiochemical: beta-elemene . Pherobase.com.
  5. Xie Q, Li F, Fang L, Liu W, Gu C . The Antitumor Efficacy of β-Elemene by Changing Tumor Inflammatory Environment and Tumor Microenvironment . BioMed Research International . 2020 . 6892961 . 2020 . 32149121 . 7054771 . 10.1155/2020/6892961 . free .
  6. Wang J, Li H, Yao Y, Ren Y, Lin J, Hu J, Zheng M, Song X, Zhao T, Chen YY, Shen Y, Zhu YJ, Wang LL . 6 . β-Elemene Enhances GAP-43 Expression and Neurite Outgrowth by Inhibiting RhoA Kinase Activation in Rats with Spinal Cord Injury . Neuroscience . 383 . 12–21 . July 2018 . 29751054 . 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.04.045 . 21735344 .
  7. Zhu T, Xu Y, Dong B, Zhang J, Wei Z, Xu Y, Yao Y . β-elemene inhibits proliferation of human glioblastoma cells through the activation of glia maturation factor β and induces sensitization to cisplatin . Oncology Reports . 26 . 2 . 405–13 . August 2011 . 21519795 . 10.3892/or.2011.1276 . free .
  8. Yao YQ, Ding X, Jia YC, Huang CX, Wang YZ, Xu YH . Anti-tumor effect of beta-elemene in glioblastoma cells depends on p38 MAPK activation . Cancer Letters . 264 . 1 . 127–34 . June 2008 . 18442668 . 10.1016/j.canlet.2008.01.049 .
  9. Wang G, Li X, Huang F, Zhao J, Ding H, Cunningham C, Coad JE, Flynn DC, Reed E, Li QQ . 6 . 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 . April 2005 . 15868411 . 10.1007/s00018-005-5017-3 . 34767648 .
  10. Li X, Wang G, Zhao J, Ding H, Cunningham C, Chen F, Flynn DC, Reed E, Li QQ . 6 . 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 . April 2005 . 15868412 . 10.1007/s00018-005-5027-1 . 20587371 .
  11. Zhai B, Zeng Y, Zeng Z, Zhang N, Li C, Zeng Y, You Y, Wang S, Chen X, Sui X, Xie T . 6 . Drug delivery systems for elemene, its main active ingredient β-elemene, and its derivatives in cancer therapy . International Journal of Nanomedicine . 13 . 6279–6296 . 2018 . 30349250 . 6186893 . 10.2147/IJN.S174527 . free .
  12. Peng X, Zhao Y, Liang X, Wu L, Cui S, Guo A, Wang W . 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 . February 2006 . 16243588 . 10.1016/j.cct.2005.07.002 .
  13. Web site: About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products: Beta-elemene . 9 August 2023 . Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center.
  14. Peng X, Zhao Y, Liang X, Wu L, Cui S, Guo A, Wang W . 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 . February 2006 . 16243588 . 10.1016/j.cct.2005.07.002 .
  15. 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

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