Status and progress of basic researches of elemene injection for anti-tumor

Elemene is one of terpenes compound,which extracted from zingiberaceae Wenyujin (curcuma aromatica salisb1).β-elemene is as the main ingredient of elemene injection that also contains a small amount of γ-and δ-elemene and other terpenoids.Through pre-clinical experiments and clinical trials in 1994 elemene injection is an application as a national second-class new drug of anti-tumor.Over the years,further basic researches related to elemene injection,which fully shows the drug for a variety of tumor cells were killed with a significant inhibitory effect,as well as inducing tumor cell apoptosis and differentiation,reversal of multidrug resistance of tumor cells and anti-metastases.Combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy,it has sensibilization,attenuation improve immunity,and mild toxicities.