Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Research of Brucea javanica against cancer

  • Review
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Brucea javanica, a Chinese herbal medicine, combined with conventional anticancer modalities, has been widely used for treatment of various cancers. Based on researches over the last decades, authors briefly summarized its active constituents, molecular mechanisms and clinical application for cancer treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Liu JH, Jin HZ, Zhang WD, Yan SK, Shen YH. Chemical constituents of plants from the genus Brucea. Chem Biodiversity 2009;6:57–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kupchan SM, Britton RW, Ziegler MF, Sigel CW. Bruceantin, a new potent antileukemic simaroubolide from Brucea antidysenterica. J Org Chem 1973;38:178–179.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kupchan SM, Britton RW, Lacadie JA, Ziegler MF, Sigel CW. The isolation and structural elucidation of bruceantin and bruceantinol, new potent antileukemic quassinoids from Brucea antidysenterica. J Org Chem 1975;40:648–654.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Okano M, Lee KH, Hall IH. Antitumor agents. 39. Bruceantinoside-A and -B, novel antileukemic quassinoid glucosides from Brucea antidysenterica. J Nat Prod 1981;44:470–474.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lee KH, Hayashi N, Okano M, Nozaki H, Ju-Ichi M. Antitumor agents, 65. Brusatol and cleomiscosin-A, antileukemic principles from Brucea javanica. J Nat Prod 1984;47:550–551.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Okano M, Fukamiya N, Aratani T, Juichi M, Lee KH. Antitumor agents, 74. Bruceanol-A and -B, two new antileukemic quassinoids from Brucea antidysenterica. J Nat Prod 1985;48:972–975.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Sakaki T, Yoshimura S, Tsuyuki T, Takahashi T, Honda T. Yadanzioside P, a new antileukemic quassinoid glycoside from Brucea javanica (L.) Merr with the 3-O-(beta-Dglucopyranosyl) bruceantin structure. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1986;34:4447–4450.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Fukamiya N, Okano M, Tagahara K, Aratani T, Muramoto Y, Lee KH. Antitumor agents, 90. Bruceantinoside C, a new cytotoxic quassinoid glycoside from Brucea antidysenterica. J Nat Prod 1987;50:1075–1079.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Fukamiya N, Okano M, Tagahara K, Aratani T, Lee KH. Antitumor agents, 93. Bruceanol C, a new cytotoxic quassinoid from Brucea antidysenterica. J Nat Prod 1988;51:349–352.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Okano M, Fukamiya N, Toyota T, Tagahara K, Lee KH. Antitumor agents, 104. Isolation of yadanziosides M and P from Brucea antidysenterica and identification of bruceantinoside B as a mixture of yadanzioside P and bruceantinoside C. J Nat Prod 1989;52:398–401.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Anderson MM, O' Neill MJ, Phillipson JD, Warhurst DC. In vitro cytotoxicity of a series of quassinoids from Brucea javanica fruits against KB cells. Planta Med 1991;57:62–64.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Toyota T, Fukamiya N, Okano M, Tagahara K, Chang JJ, Lee KH. Antitumor agents, 118. The isolation and characterization of bruceanic acid A, its methyl ester, and the new bruceanic acids B, C, and D, from Brucea antidysenterica. J Nat Prod 1990;53:1526–1532.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Fukamiya N, Okano M, Miyamoto M, Tagahara K, Lee KH. Antitumor agents, 127. Bruceoside C, a new cytotoxic quassinoid glucoside, and related compounds from Brucea javanica. J Nat Prod 1992;55:468–475.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Imamura K, Fukamiya N, Okano M, Tagahara K, Lee KH. Bruceanols D, E, and F-3, new cytotoxic quassinoids from Brucea antidysenterica. J Nat Prod 1993;56:2091–2097.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Imamura K, Fukamiya N, Nakamura M, Okano M, Tagahara K, Lee KH. Bruceanols G and H, cytotoxic quassinoids from Brucea antidysenterica. J Nat Prod 1995;58:1915–1919.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Ohnishi S, Fukamiya N, Okano M, Tagahara K, Lee KH. Bruceoside-D, bruceoside-E, and bruceoside-F, 3 new cytotoxic quassinoid glucosides from Brucea javanica. J Nat Prod 1995;58:1032–1038.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Luyengi L, Suh N, Fong HH, Pezzuto JM, Kinghorn AD. A lignan and four terpenoids from Brucea javanica that induce differentiation with cultured HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells. Phytochemistry 1996;43:409–412.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Su BN, Chang LC, Park EJ, Cuendet M, Santarsiero BD, Mesecar AD, et al. Bioactive constituents of the seeds of Brucea javanica. Planta Med 2002;68:730–733.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Pan L, Chin YW, Chai HB, Ninh TN, Soejarto DD, Kinghorn AD. Bioactivity-guided isolation of cytotoxic constituents of Brucea javanica collected in Vietnam. Bioorgan Med Chem 2009;17:2219–2224.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kim JA, Lau EK, Pan L, De Blanco EJ. NF-κB inhibitors from Brucea javanica exhibiting intracellular effects on reactive oxygen species. Anticancer Res 2010;30:3295–3300.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  21. Liu JQ, Wang CF, Li XY, Chen JC, Li Y, Qiu MH. One new pregnane glycoside from the seeds of cultivated Brucea javanica. Arch Pharm Res 2011;34:1297–1300.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhao M, Lau ST, Leung PS, Che CT, Lin ZX. Seven quassinoids from Fructus bruceae with cytotoxic effects on pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines. Phytother Res 2011;25:1796–1800.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Chen H, Bai J, Fang ZF, Yu SS, Ma SG, Xu S, et al. Indole alkaloids and quassinoids from the stems of Brucea mollis. J Nat Prod 2011;74:2438–2445.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Fukamiya N, Okano M, Aratani T, Negoro K, McPhail AT, Ju-ichi M, et al. Antitumor agents, 79. Cytotoxic antileukemic alkaloids from Brucea antidysenterica. J Nat Prod 1986;49:428–434.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Liu JH, Qin JJ, Jin HZ, Hu XJ, Chen M, Shen YH, et al. A new triterpenoid from Brucea javanica. Arch Pharm Res 2009;32:661–666.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhang H, Yang JY, Zhou F, Wang LH, Zhang W, Sha S, et al. Seed oil of Brucea javanica induces apoptotic death of acute myeloid leukemia cells via both the death receptors and the mitochondrial-related pathways. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011;2011:1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Jin Z, El-Deiry WS. Overview of cell death signaling pathways. Cancer Biol Ther 2005;4:139–163.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Fulda S, Debatin KM. Extrinsic versus intrinsic apoptosis pathways in anticancer chemotherapy. Oncogene 2006;25:4798–4811.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Shi L, Yue Y, Wang ZR. Suppression of human hepatocellular cancer cell line HepG2 by Brucea liposome in vitro or in vivo. J Xi'an Jiaotong Univ (Med Sci, Chin) 2011;32:772–777.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Wang XN, Ma L, An CL, Xiao CL, Wang XL, Wang DD. Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion inhibits proliferation of cervical cancer SiHa cells. China J Biother (Chin) 2009;16:494–497.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Wang F, Cao Y, Liu HY, Fu ZD, Han R. Experimental studies on the apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion. China J Chin Mater Med (Chin) 2003;28:759–762.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Lau ST, Lin ZX, Zhao M, Leung PS. Brucea javanica fruit induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines. Phytother Res 2008;22:477–486.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Lau ST, Lin ZX, Liao Y, Zhao M, Cheng CH, Leung PS. Bruceine Dinducesapoptos is inpancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line PANC-1 through the activation of p38-mitogen activated protein kinase. Cancer Lett 2009;281:42–52.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Lou GG, Yao HP, Xie LP. Brucea javanica Oil induces apoptosis in T24 bladder cancer cells via up-regulation of caspase-3, caspase-9, and inhibition of NF-kappa B and COX-2 expressions. Am J Chin Med 2010;38:613–624.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Lu F, Wang H, Qin WJ. Bladder cancer J82 cells apoptosis induced by Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion and the mechanism. Chin J Rehabil Theory Pract (Chin) 2007;13:432–433.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Lau FY, Chui CH, Gambari R, Kok SH, Kan KL, Cheng GY, et al. Antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity of Brucea javanica extract on human carcinoma cells. Int J Mol Med 2005;16:1157–1162.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Li Y, Li Y, Zhang LY, Xu GL. Experimental study of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion induces K562 cell apoptosis and its mechanism. J Int Oncol (Chin) 2006;33:637–639.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Gao H, Lamusta J, Zhang WF, Salmonsen R, Liu Y, O'Connell E, et al. Tumor cell selective cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction by an herbal preparation from Brucea javanica. N Am J Med Sci (Boston) 2011;4:62–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  39. Ma L, Zhang YN. Effects of seminal oil emulsion of Brucea javanica on apoptosis and apoptosis-related genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. World Chin J Digestol (Chin) 2004;12: 559–562.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Yin XJ, Luan HZ, An CL, Wang XL, Bing YY, Wang XN. Inhibitory effect of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion against cervical caner cell line Hela and its mechanism. Chin J Cancer Biother (Chin) 2008;15:393–395.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Yang LH, Shi WJ, Zhao XQ. The inhibitory effect of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion on glioma SKMG-4 cells. Chin J Neurosurg Dis Res (Chin) 2011;10:38–40.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Chen D, Chen P, Zhu M, Shi XY, Pan DF, Kong X, et al. Reverse effect of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion on drug resistant human ovarian carcinoma cells A2780/DDP. J Emerg Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2009;18:598–599.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Yu LF, Wu YL, Zhang YP. Reversal of drug resistance in the vincristine-resistant human gastric cancer cell lines MKN28/VCR by emulsion of seminal oil of Brucea javanica. World Chin J Digestol (Chin) 2001;9:376–378.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Ji CL, Xie YY, Sun DX. Reversal of drug resistance in the K562/ADM cell line by Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion and the mechanism. Zhejiang J Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2010;45:458–459.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Ren D, Villeneuve NF, Jiang T, Wu T, Lau A, Toppin HA, et al. Brusatol enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy by inhibiting the Nrf2-mediated defense mechanism. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2011;108:1433–1438.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Cuendet M, Gills JJ, Pezzuto JM. Brusatol-induced HL-60 cell differentiation involves NF-kappa B activation. Cancer Lett 2004;206:43–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Ata-Greenwood E, Cuendet M, Sher D, Gustin D, Stock W, Pezzuto JM. Brusatol-mediated induction of leukemic cell differentiation and G1 arrest is associated with downregulation of c-myc. Leukemia 2002;16:2275–2284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Tang T, Meng LH, Chen LJ, Ding J. Reversal of multidrug resistance and inhibition of DNA topoisomerase II by emulsion of seed oil of Brucea javanica. Chin Pharmacol Bull (Chin) 2001;17:534–539.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  49. Xu X, Xu DH, Jiang B, Lu QH. Effects of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in A549 cell line. China J Chin Mater Med (Chin) 2008;33:2517–2520.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Jiang B, Xu DH, Xu X, Lu QH. Effect of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion on apoptosis and vascular endothelial growth factor secretion of A549 cells. Chin Pharm J (Chin) 2009;44:1387–1391.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Cuendet M, Pezzuto JM. Antitumor activity of bruceantin: an old drug with new promise. J Nat Prod 2004;67:269–272.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Shu Q J, Wang T X, Wang B B, Zhu MG, Wu LC. T he MMP-2 and TMP-2 levels in blood serum of patients with NSCLC in different TNM staging and regulation of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion. Chin Arch Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2007;25:1621–1623.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Yue YR, Sun QM, Liang H, Wu NB. Clincal research of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion combined with concurrent radiotherapy in esophageal cancer treatment. Chin J Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2010;22:18–20.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Liu HJ, Xu H, Ning SQ. Treatment of advanced gastric cancer with DX chemotherapy and Bruceolic Oil Emulsion. Pract J Clin Med (Chin) 2010;7:76–77.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Xu MM, Wu X, Zhuang YZ. Application of bruceolic oil emulsion in patients accepted postoperative chemotherapy of color ectal cancer. Med J West China (Chin) 2010;22:2068–2069.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Zhu HF, Ren QL, Wang LQ, Chen L, Zhao W. Oleum of Brucea javanica used in liver intervention to treat carcinoma. J Med Imaging (Chin) 2010;20:712–714.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Li XZ, Jiang SL, Wang Y, Wang LQ. The clinical observation of hepatic artery infusion with Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion combined with transcatheter arterial embolization with lipiodol in the treatment of primary liver cancer. J Basic Clin Oncol (Chin) 2010;23:146–148.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Yu HM, Wang HQ, Cai HJ. Combined Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion injection and third generation chemotherapy regimen containing platinum for advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a meta-analysis. J Chin PLA Postgrad Med Sch (Chin) 2011;32:1099–1102.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Wang H, Zhang B, Wu GJ, Zhang G, Xin JG. Effects of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion intravesical instillation for the treatment of bladder cancer in mice. J Fourth Mil Med Univ (Chin) 2001;22:1886–1891.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  60. Wang F, Qin W, Zhang G, Zhang Y, Liu H, Yang L, et al. Prospective clinical studies at the efficacy of Brucea javanica oil, mitomycin and BCG for preventing postoperative relapse of superficial bladder cancer through perfusion. Chin-German J Clin Oncol 2011;4:228–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Yang XH, Chen J, Fang MZ. Clinical study on patients with advanced prostate cancer treated by combination of triptorelin and bruceolic oil emulsion. Modern Oncol (Chin) 2011;19:122–124.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Chen HH, Yang LP. Treating metastatic brain cancer with Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion: a report of 24 cases. J N Chin Med (Chin) 2011;43:45–46.

    Google Scholar 

  63. Wu SQ, Jia YS, Lu SL, Luo LM. Clinical outcomes of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion combined with radiation in patients with malignant glioma. China J Chin Mater Med (Chin) 2006;31:1282–1283.

    Google Scholar 

  64. Liu YM, Liu QF, Wang H, Wang TC, Zhang YT, Yang R, et al. Observation of the effect of Javanica Oil Injection combined with radiotherapy on brain metastases. J Henan Med Coll Staff Workers (Chin) 2011;23:145–147.

    Google Scholar 

  65. Ge CZ, Xu YH, Zhang DF, Liu ZX. Treating metastatic brain cancer with Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion in combination with radiotherapy: a report of 41 cases. Guiding J Tradit Chin Med Pharmacy (Chin) 2012;18:29–30.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Wu H, Ye YL. The effects of combination of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion Injection and radiotherapy in patients with metastatic bone malignancy: a report of 30 cases. Jiangxi J Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2010;41:42–43.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Li ZY, Yu HY, Ning SQ, Yi TN. Metastatic bone tumor pain treated with Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion combined with radiotherapy. Chin J Pain Med (Chin) 2012;18:35–37.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  68. Wu SH, Rui L, Hong Y C. Efficacy and safety of pleural injection of the Yadanzi grease combined with diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP) in the treatment of the malignant pleural effusion. Hainan Med J (Chin) 2009;20:14–15.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  69. Chen CH, Li HB, Li YC, Zhang XY, Zhang JY. The effect of Java Brucea oil young inoculation fluid combined with gamma knife in the treatment of cancerous hydrothorax. Modern Oncol (Chin) 2009;17:1092–1093.

    Google Scholar 

  70. Mu HC, Dong LJ. Clinical efficacy of cisplatin hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy combined with Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion for malignant ascites. J Dig Oncol (Chin) 2012;4:232–235.

    Google Scholar 

  71. Song XY, Liu YX, Yang L, Zhang YZ. Literature analysis of the adverse drug reactions of Brucea javanica Oil Emulsion Injection. China Pharmacist (Chin) 2011;14:557–558.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bei Zhang.

Additional information

Supported by Grants from Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Guangdong Province, China (No. 20111169)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yan, Z., Guo, Gf. & Zhang, B. Research of Brucea javanica against cancer. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 153–160 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2501-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2501-6

Keywords

Navigation