Rhus vernicifluaStokes against Advanced Cancer: A Perspective from the Korean Integrative Cancer Center

Abstract

Active anticancer molecules have been searched from natural products; many drugs were developed from either natural products or their derivatives following the conventional pharmaceutical paradigm of drug discovery. However, the advances in the knowledge of cancer biology have led to personalized medicine using molecular-targeted agents which create new paradigm. Clinical benefit is dependent on individual biomarker and overall survival is prolonged through cytostatic rather than cytotoxic effects to cancer cell. Therefore, a different approach is needed from the single lead compound screening model based on cytotoxicity. In our experience, the Rhus verniciflua stoke (RVS) extract traditionally used for cancer treatment is beneficial to some advanced cancer patients though it is herbal extract not single compound, and low cytotoxic in vitro. The standardized RVS extract's action mechanisms as well as clinical outcomes are reviewed here. We hope that these preliminary results would stimulate different investigation in natural products from conventional chemicals.

Growth inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects of allergen-free Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract on A549 human lung cancer cells

“…RVS extract or a standardized extract of the allergen-free RVS is reported to have anticancer effects on several human cancers and/or cells, including stomach, breast and liver cancer, osteosarcoma and lymphoma (7,(9)(10)(11)(12). The efficacy and safety of a standardized allergen-free RVS extract as maintenance therapy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer or pulmonary adenocarcinoma has also been previously reported (17).…”

“…There is increasing evidence that RVS extract and its components have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and/or anticancerous activities (3)(4)(5)(6). Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have further shown the antitumor effects of the RVS extract and/or its components on various human cancer types or cell lines, including stomach, breast and liver cancer, osteosarcoma and lymphoma (7)(8)(9)(10). Possible mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects of the RVS extract and/or its components have also been previously reported, including induction of apoptosis and inhibition of the phosphoinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) pathway (7), activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) (11), cell cycle arrest (12) and reduction of manganese superoxidase (MnSOD) activity or glutathione (GSH) content (13).…”

“…It is therefore proposed that removal of urushiol from RVS or its extract is required for its pharmacological or medicinal uses. Accordingly, it has been shown that a standardized extract of the allergen-free RVS is efficacious for the treatment of advanced or metastatic cancers (10). Although numerous studies have been published 4 and JoNG-SooN CHoI concerning the antitumor effect of the allergen-free RVS extract, molecular and cellular mechanisms by which the allergen-free RVS extract exerts its anti-growth and/or apoptosis-inducing effects on human cancer cells are still not fully understood at present.…”

Antimicrobial activity of the synthesized non-allergenic urushiol derivatives

“…9,10) Our previous reported that the affinity of CTUDs (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6) to liposome membrane tended to increase with the increase of the carbon atomic length of the alkyl side chains. 14) In this study, we found that there was an apparent correlation between the antimicrobial activity and lipophilicity, although the activities observed varied slightly between the microorganisms tested.…”

“…1,2) They consist of o-dihydroxybenzene (catechol) coupled with a saturated or unsaturated alkyl side chain of 15 or 17 carbons in the C-3 position of the benzene ring and are amphipathic compounds.…”