Anti-Tumor Activity of Marsdenia Tenacissima Extracts

Marsdenia tenacissima, a climbing vine long employed in traditional Chinese medicine, has garnered attention for its broad-spectrum anti-tumour properties. Extracts typically contain steroidal glycosides—particularly polyoxypregnane derivatives such as tenacigenin B conjugates—that exert direct cytotoxicity against diverse cancer cell types. In vitro and in vivo investigations have demonstrated suppression of proliferation, induction of apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest, and inhibition of migration and invasion across solid tumours and leukaemias. Mechanistically, these effects are mediated through modulation of key signalling networks, including enhancement of the tumour suppressor PTEN with downstream inactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis, antagonism of the Wnt/β-catenin cascade via SFRP1 induction, and upregulation of pro-apoptotic mediators. Beyond intrinsic cytotoxicity, Marsdenia extracts augment anti-tumour immunity by promoting infiltration and activation of CD8+ T lymphocytes, downregulating immune checkpoints such as PD-L1 and TGF-β1, and reversing resistance to chemotherapeutic agents and targeted inhibitors. Clinical meta-analyses of adjunctive formulations (for example, injectable Xiao-Ai-Ping) suggest improved objective response rates, performance status, and reduced treatment-related toxicity in patients with non-small cell lung and gastric cancers. Together, these findings position Marsdenia tenacissima extracts as a promising source of novel anticancer compounds and immune modulators with global therapeutic potential.

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Anti-Tumor Activity of Marsdenia Tenacissima Extracts publication trend

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Technical terms

Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs): immune cells that have migrated into the tumour microenvironment and can mediate anti-tumour responses.

Wnt/β-catenin pathway: a cell-signalling cascade critical for proliferation and differentiation, often aberrantly activated in cancers.

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA): RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that do not code for proteins but regulate gene expression epigenetically or via molecular sponging.

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1): an immune checkpoint protein expressed on tumour cells that binds PD-1 on T cells to inhibit immune attack.

Polyoxypregnane glycosides: steroidal compounds bearing multiple sugar residues, implicated in the cytotoxic and immunomodulatory activities of the extract.

References

1. Marsdenia tenacissima enhances immune response of tumor infiltrating T lymphocytes to colorectal cancer. Frontiers in Immunology (2023).
2. Marsdenia tenacissima extract prevents the malignant progression of glioma through upregulating lncRNA MEG3 and SFRP1‐dependent inhibition of Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics (2023).
3. The Antitumor Activities of Marsdenia tenacissima. Frontiers in Oncology (2018).
4. Xiao-ai-ping injection adjunct with platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2020).
5. Efficacy and Safety of Xiao Ai Ping Injection Combined with Chemotherapy in Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2019).
6. Marsdenia tenacissimae extraction (MTE) inhibits the proliferation and induces the apoptosis of human acute T cell leukemia cells through inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway via PTEN enhancement. Oncotarget (2016).
7. Xiao‐Ai‐Ping, a TCM Injection, Enhances the Antigrowth Effects of Cisplatin on Lewis Lung Cancer Cells through Promoting the Infiltration and Function of CD8+ T Lymphocytes. Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2013).
8. Marsdenia tenacissima extract overcomes Axl- and Met-mediated erlotinib and gefitinib cross-resistance in non-small cell lung cancer cells. Oncotarget (2017).