Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Rhus Verniciflua Extracts

Rhus verniciflua, commonly known as the lacquer tree, has a long history of use in East Asian traditional medicine. Modern phytochemical analyses have revealed a rich profile of phenolic compounds and flavonoids—including butein, fisetin, quercetin and gallic acid—that underpin its biological activities. Anti-inflammatory effects arise from suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators such as tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukins and cyclo­oxygenase-2, often via inhibition of the NF-κB signalling cascade and downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase. Concurrently, anticancer actions reflect both cytostatic and cytotoxic mechanisms: extracts and isolated constituents trigger cell‐cycle arrest, enhance p53-dependent apoptosis and disrupt PI3K/AKT‐driven survival pathways. These dual modalities have been demonstrated across a spectrum of cancer cell models, including hormone‐responsive breast carcinoma, chemoresistant ovarian tumours and colorectal lines, and correspond with in vivo reductions in tumour growth and metastasis. Beyond mechanistic insights, efforts to detoxify and standardise Rhus verniciflua extracts have mitigated allergenic urushiol content while preserving bioactivity, paving the way for their incorporation into functional foods and complementary therapies. The global significance of these findings lies in the pressing need for multi‐targeted agents that can modulate chronic inflammatory states and overcome chemoresistance, presenting Rhus verniciflua as a versatile botanical source for drug development and integrative oncology.

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Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Rhus Verniciflua Extracts publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties of rhus verniciflua extracts across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Phenolic compounds: A class of plant metabolites characterised by one or more hydroxyl groups attached to an aromatic ring, involved in antioxidant and signalling activities.

Flavonoids: Subgroup of polyphenols with a 15-carbon skeleton, including butein and fisetin, known for anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects.

NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells): A transcription factor central to the regulation of immune responses and cell survival, often hyperactivated in chronic inflammation and cancer.

Apoptosis: Programmed cell death involving caspase activation, DNA fragmentation and membrane blebbing, essential for eliminating damaged or malignant cells.

PI3K/AKT pathway: Intracellular signalling cascade that promotes cell growth and survival; its dysregulation is implicated in tumour development and chemoresistance.

References

1. Integrating Traditional Medicine into Modern Inflammatory Diseases Care: Multitargeting by Rhus verniciflua Stokes. Mediators of Inflammation (2014).
2. Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) and butein induce apoptosis of paclitaxel-resistant SKOV-3/PAX ovarian cancer cells through inhibition of AKT phosphorylation. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2016).
3. Comparison of the main components and bioactivity of Rhus verniciflua Stokes extracts by different detoxification processing methods. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2018).
4. Extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes Induces p53‐Mediated Apoptosis in MCF‐7 Breast Cancer Cells. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2019).