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A narrative review of the antitumor studies of solanine
Shan Luo1, Guo-Jiang Tian2, Fu-Xiang Yu1
1Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Abstract:
Cancer is a major worldwide public health problem. With the popularity of medical examinations, the improvement of surgical procedures and the application of antitumor drugs, the mortality rate of cancer has declined in recent years, but the quantity remains extremely high. At the same time, with the emergence of tumor drug resistance, it is particularly urgent to seek new and effective drugs for tumor treatment. Solanine, a type of steroidal alkaloid, is the main extract of Solanum nigrum L. Because of its wide biological activity, it has attracted increasing attention, specifically, towards the empirical study of its antitumor activity. This article summarizes the research progress of the antitumor effect and mechanism of solanine over the past 20 years, to provide a reference for workers in the field of cancer research. Studies from 2000 to 2020 were reviewed from PubMed, Springer Link and the Web of Science using the keywords Solanum nigrum L., solanine, α-solanine, β-solanine, γ-solanine, tumor, cancer and their combinations. Exclude research articles of extraction mixture. Language is limited to English. Solanine shows antitumor ability against different tumors by targeting different proteins. Although there is a lack of clinical large-scale studies, a large number of basic pharmacological and toxicological studies have confirmed that solanine may be a new effective cancer drug or adjuvant therapy. Solanine preparations and solanine derivative preparations have broad economic and scientific research prospects.
Insights
Solanine, derived from Solanum nigrum L., demonstrates significant potential as an anticancer agent by targeting various proteins. Further research into solanine and its derivatives could lead to new cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Oncology
- Natural Products Chemistry
Background:
- Cancer remains a significant global health challenge, with increasing tumor drug resistance necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
- Solanine, a steroidal alkaloid from Solanum nigrum L., exhibits diverse biological activities, prompting investigation into its anticancer properties.
- Existing cancer treatments face limitations, highlighting the urgent need for new and effective drug candidates or adjuvant therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the research progress on the antitumor effects and mechanisms of solanine over the past two decades (2000-2020).
- To provide a comprehensive reference for researchers in cancer and pharmacology.
- To assess the potential of solanine as a novel anticancer agent or supportive therapy.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature review of studies published between 2000 and 2020.
- Databases searched included PubMed, Springer Link, and Web of Science.
- Keywords used were Solanum nigrum L., solanine, α-solanine, β-solanine, γ-solanine, tumor, and cancer, with exclusion of extraction mixture studies.
Main Results:
- Solanine exhibits antitumor activity against various cancer types by interacting with different protein targets.
- Numerous basic pharmacological and toxicological studies support solanine's efficacy.
- While large-scale clinical trials are lacking, preclinical data indicate therapeutic promise.
Conclusions:
- Solanine demonstrates significant potential as a novel anticancer drug or as an adjuvant therapy.
- Solanine and its derivatives present promising prospects for economic and scientific development in cancer research.
- Further clinical investigation is warranted to fully establish solanine's role in cancer treatment.
