Plant Origin Source, Content Profile and Bioactivity of Podophyllotoxin as an Important Natural Anticancer Agent

Pharmacological studies have shown that podophyllotoxin (PTOX) has anti-tumor, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects. More and more derivatives of PTOX, such as VM-26, NK-611 and GL-331, have gradually been synthesized and are widely used in clinical practice. Sinopodophyllum hexandrum rhizome is rich in PTOX, which is much higher than other PTOX source plants. At present, research on S. hexandrum mainly focuses on artificial cultivation, chemical composition, pharmaceutical value, and the biosynthesis pathway of PTOX. However, the researches are relatively scattered, and systematic review on PTOX is very limited. Therefore, this study performed a comprehensive investigation of the plant origin source, content profile, and biological activities to provide an integrated reference for in-depth research and clinical application of PTOX in the fields of chemistry and pharmacy, which can promote the innovative use of S. hexandrum resources and research and development of new anticancer drugs.