Asian Journal
Of Traditional Medicines

Abstract: Plant-derived natural products have been proved to be an excellent source of lead compounds for anti-cancer drug discovery. The apoptotic mode of cell death is an active and defined process which is essential for the development of multicellular organisms and in the regulation and maintenance of the cell populations in tissues upon physiological and pathological conditions. Apoptosis plays important roles in development, tissue homeostasis, diseases and drug responses. Caspase-9 is a central member of caspases (cystein-dependent aspartate-specific proteases) family, which is the initiator of apoptosis. Several studies have shown that many plant-derived natural products could increase the expression of caspase-9 by intrinsic or mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, induce the tumor cells to death, and then reach the purpose of anti-tumor effects. This review summarizes caspase-9 structure and caspase-9 functions in intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, as well as its role in the anti-tumor activities of plant-derived natural products.

Key words: plant-derived natural products, apoptosis, caspase-9, anti-tumor activities