Anti-Cancer Effects of Asiatic Acid, A Triterpene From Centilla Asiatica L: A Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Centilla asiatica L is a medicinal herb that has been widely used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. Asiatic Acid (AA), a triterpene and a known component of this herb, has been shown to display important biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic, neuroprotective, anxiolytic and antidepressant, hepatoprotective, pancrease protective, and cardio-protective.

OBJECTIVE: This review focuses on AA's anti-cancer effects on the basis of published literature found in a number of databases such as PubMed and Science. Emphasis has been given to the mechanisms of action of its anti-cancer effect.

METHODS: A literature survey was conducted through May 2019 using known databases such as PubMed and Science Direct using the keyword 'Asiatic acid', pairing with 'cancer', 'tumor', 'anti-cancer effect', 'cytotoxic effect', 'anti-tumor activity', 'cell line', 'animal cancer', and 'human cancer'.

RESULTS: Findings suggest that AA exerts anti-cancer effects in several test systems through various pathways, including oxidative/antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, apoptotic cell death, necrosis, anti-angiogenesis, inhibition of proliferation and cell migration, and chemoprevention.

CONCLUSIONS: AA may be an effective plant-based cancer chemotherapeutic agent and a promising lead for the development of potent anticancer drugs.