Capilliposides from Lysimachia capillipes: triterpene saponins with potential anticancer activities

Capilliposides (CPSs) are oleanane-type triterpene saponins derived from Lysimachia capillipes, a traditional Chinese herb widely utilised for treating inflammatory illnesses, cancer, and arthritis disorders. CPSs have been reported to exhibit anticancer activity against different cancers, including lung, prostate, ovarian, colorectal, nasopharyngeal, and breast cancers. Mechanistically, CPSs have been suggested to induce apoptosis via regulating oxidative stress and mitochondrial pathways, as well as inhibiting angiogenesis and metastasis, promoting cell cycle arrest, and interfering with PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, and JAK/STAT3 signalling cascades. Additionally, CPSs have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties; they lowered oxidative stress, relieved experimental colitis, preserved intestinal barrier integrity, and regulated gut microbiota. This review discussed the reported data on the separation, chemistry, pharmacokinetics, and biological activities of CPSs. Although CPSs represent prominent multi-target natural triterpenes, current findings are largely preclinical and require further interpretation. Future research and clinical trials are recommended to confirm their safety and therapeutic potential.