Natural triterpenoid avicins selectively induce tumor cell death

Avicins, a family of plant-derived triterpenoids, have been shown to possess pro-apoptotic, anti-mutagenic and anti-inflammatory properties in mammalian cells. Through thiol binding, avicins can also mediate antioxidant defense. Accumulating evidence uncovered during the past several years suggests that avicins induce tumor cell death via multiple mechanisms. This review will focus on recent studies that provide insights into the cellular and molecular processes and pathways by which avicins induce tumor cell death, including the canonical intrinsic mitochondrial and the Fas-mediated apoptosis cascades as well as autophagy-associated non-apoptotic programmed cell death.