Chinese Herbs Interfering with Cancer Reprogramming Metabolism

Figure 1

Cancer metabolic reprogramming and Chinese herbal interference. Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells has four core elements: glucose transport, glycolysis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and fatty acid synthesis. Fourteen derivative compounds of Chinese herbs have been shown to interfere with the complex and interrelated biochemical reactions that result in cancer cells achieving that metabolically reprogrammed dysfunctional energy homeostasis. While some of the mechanisms behind the antitumor activity of these chemical agents are known, these compounds have potent metabolic regulatory potential that has yet to be tapped. Herbal derivative abbreviations: BER: berberine; CUR: curcumin; Rg3: ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3; OLA: oleanolic acid; ORD: oridonin; OST: osthole; PRA: prosapogenin A; QCT: quercetin; SHK: shikonin; TET: tetrandrine; WGN: wogonin; EGCG: epigallocatechin gallate; ORX: oroxylin A; CHRY: Chrysophanol.