Taxol induces two forms of cell cycle arrest, which in turn induce two independent apoptotic pathways. Arrest in prophase induces rapid onset of a p53-independent pathway, whereas G1-block and the resulting slow (3-5 days) apoptotic pathway are p53 dependent.

It is clear that lncRNAs, specifically HOTAIR, can regulate the cisplatin-resistance ability of human endometrial cancer cells through the regulation of autophagy by influencing Beclin-1, MDR, and P-gp expression.

The phytochemical study of Pedilanthus tithymaloides led to the isolation of 13 jatrophane diterpenoids (1-13), of which eight (1-8) are new. Subsequent structural modification of the major components by esterification, hydrolysis, hydrogenation, or epoxidation yielded 22 new derivatives (14-35). Thus, a jatrophane library containing two series of compounds was established to screen for P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-dependent MDR modulators. The activity was evaluated through a combination of Rho123 efflux and chemoreversal assays on adriamycin resistant human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2 (HepG2/ADR) and adriamycin resistant human breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7 (MCF-7/ADR). Compounds 19, 25, and 26 were identified as potent MDR modulators with greater chemoreversal ability and less cytotoxicity than the third-generation drug tariquidar. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) was discussed, which showed that modifications beyond just increasing the lipophilicity of this class of Pgp inhibitors are beneficial to the activity. Compound 26, which exhibited a remarkable metabolic stability in vitro and a favorable antitumor effect in vivo, would serve as a promising lead for the development of new MDR reversal agents.

Over the past decades, a number of phytochemicals have been reported to possess potent pharmacological effects. Saikosaponins represent a group of oleanane derivatives, usually as glucosides, which are commonly found in medicinal plants Bupleurum spp., which have been used as traditional Chinese medicine for more than 1,000 years in China. Emerging evidence suggests that saikosaponins have many pharmacological effects, including sedation, anticonvulsant, antipyretic, antiviral, immunity, anti-inflammation, antitumor properties, protecting liver and kidney and so on. The present review provides a comprehensive summary and analysis of the pharmacological properties of saikosaponins, supporting the potential uses of saikosaponins as a medicinal agent.