The Antitumor Efficacy of β-Elemene by Changing Tumor Inflammatory Environment and Tumor Microenvironment

Abstract

Inflammatory mediators and inflammatory cells in the inflammatory microenvironment promote the transformation of normal cells to cancer cells in the early stage of cancer, promote the growth and development of cancer cells, and induce tumor immune escape. The monomeric active ingredient β-elemene is extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Curcuma wenyujin and has been proven to have good anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities in clinical applications for more than 20 years in China. Recent studies have found that this traditional Chinese medicine plays a vital role in macrophage infiltration and M2 polarization, as well as in regulating immune disorders, and it even regulates the transcription factors NF-κB and STAT3 to alter inflammation, tumorigenesis, and development. In addition, β-elemene regulates not only different inflammatory factors (such as TNF-α, IFN, TGF-β, and IL-6/10) but also oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro. The excellent anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects of β-elemene and its ability to alter the inflammatory microenvironment of tumors have been gradually elaborated. Although the study of monomeric active ingredients in traditional Chinese medicines is insufficient in terms of quality and quantity, the pharmacological effects of more active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicines will be revealed after β-elemene.

A review on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of clove basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.)

“… α-Copaene GC–MS of microwave-assisted hydrodistillation extracted essential oils from O. gratissimum ( Benitez et al., 2009 ), GC/FID and GC/MS of extraction from fresh aerial parts of O. gratissimum (Kpadonou Kpoviessi et al., 2014 ) Antioxidant and antigenotoxic features, Potential anticancer agent Turkez et al. (2014) β-Elemene GC–MS of microwave-assisted hydrodistillation extracted essential oils from O. gratissimum ( Benitez et al., 2009 ), GC/FID and GC/MS of extraction from fresh aerial parts of O. gratissimum (Kpadonou Kpoviessi et al., 2014 ) Anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects Xie et al. (2020) Li et al.…”

<p>Down-Regulation of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α and Downstream Glucose Transporter Protein-1 Gene by β-elemene Enhancing the Radiosensitivity of Lung Adenocarcinoma Transplanted Tumor</p>

“…OncoTargets and Therapy 2020:13 many kinds of malignant tumors. 29 At present, the accepted dose of radiotherapy for the transplanted tumor in nude mice is 45mg/kg, at which the radiosensitization effect of radiotherapy is moderate. 30 In this study, the transplanted tumor model of lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells in mice was successfully established.…”

Genetic Manipulation and Bioreactor Culture of Plants as a Tool for Industry and Its Applications

“…This compound plays a role in macrophage infiltration and M2 polarization, regulates the transcription factors NF-κB and STAT3 to alter inflammation, and tumorigenesis and development. In addition, β-elemene modulates different inflammatory factors (such as TNF-α, IFN, TGF-β, and IL-6/10) as well as oxidative stress in vivo and in vitro [ 142 ]. Apart from enhancing the immune system, β-elemene exerts its effects in cancer cells by inhibiting cell proliferation, arresting the cell cycle, inducing cell apoptosis, exerting anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis effects, and reversing multiple-drug resistance [ 143 ].…”