Sesquiterpene Lactones and Cancer: New Insight into Antitumor and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Parthenolide-Derived Dimethylaminomicheliolide and Micheliolide

Abstract

Applied science nowadays works on the isolation and application of biological macromolecules (BMM). These BMM are isolates from plants using different techniques and used as anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Parthenolide (PLT) is one of the most important biological macromolecules and a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone that is isolated from a plant species Tanacetum parthenium (T. parthenium). The anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects of PTL isolated from T. parthenium were previously reported and summarized in detail. These biological activities make it a vital candidate for further researches and drugs development. As per the previously obtained findings, the sesquiterpene is very much known for some biological activities; therefore, the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities of the sesquiterpene were critically reviewed. During the research process, PTL was found to be unstable in both acidic and basic conditions with low solubility, so structurally related compounds micheliolide (MCL) and Dimethylaminomicheliolide (DMAMCL) (a prodrug of MCL) were developed. In this article, we briefly review the therapeutic effects of PTL and its derivative DMAPT on inflammatory diseases and tumors, focusing on the current application of PTL in targeted therapy and combination therapy, together with anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor functions of MCL and DMAMCL. The uniqueness of this biological macromolecule is not to harm the normal cell but target the cancerous cells. Therefore, the current literature review might be helpful and useful for prospects based on the effects of MCL and DMAMCL on cancer.