Hederagenin is a pentacyclic triterpenoid that is widely distributed as the main pharmaceutical ingredient in various medicinal plants. Similarly as other pentacyclic triterpenoids, hederagenin has various pharmacological effects such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, and anti-viral activities. In particular, the anti-tumor activity of hederagenin indicates its potential for development into highly effective chemotherapeutic agents. Studies revealed that hederagenin effectively suppresses the growth of various tumor cell lines in vitro and interacts with several molecular targets that play essential roles in various cellular signaling pathways. The compound suppresses transformation, inhibits proliferation, and induces apoptosis in tumor cells. In this review, we highlight research progress on the source, pharmacokinetics, pharmacological activity, and mechanism of action of hederagenin and the anti-tumor activity of its analogs by integrating and analyzing relevant domestic and international studies and providing a basis for their further development and application.

常春藤素是一种五环三萜类化合物，作为主要药用成分广泛分布于多种药用植物中。与其他五环三萜类化合物类似，常春藤皂苷元具有抗肿瘤、抗炎、抗抑郁、抗病毒等多种药理作用。特别是，常春藤素的抗肿瘤活性表明其开发为高效化疗药物的潜力。研究表明，常春藤素在体外可有效抑制各种肿瘤细胞系的生长，并与在各种细胞信号通路中发挥重要作用的多个分子靶点相互作用。该化合物抑制肿瘤细胞的转化、抑制增殖并诱导细胞凋亡。本文通过整合和分析国内外相关研究，重点介绍常春藤素的来源、药代动力学、药理活性、作用机制及其类似物抗肿瘤活性的研究进展，为其进一步开发和利用提供依据。应用。