α-Hederin is a monosaccharide pentacyclic triterpene saponin compound derived from the Chinese herb, Pulsatilla. It has garnered considerable attention for its anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and spasmolytic pharmacological activities. Given the rising incidence of cancer and the pronounced adverse reactions associated with chemotherapy drugs—which profoundly impact the quality of life for cancer patients—there is an immediate need for safe and effective antitumor agents. Traditional drugs and their anticancer effects have become a focal point of research in recent years. Studies indicate that α-Hederin can hinder tumor cell proliferation and impede the advancement of various cancers, including breast, lung, colorectal, and liver cancers. The principal mechanism behind its anti-tumor activity involves inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, facilitating tumor cell apoptosis, and arresting the cell cycle process. Current evidence suggests that α-Hederin can exert its anti-tumor properties through diverse mechanisms, positioning it as a promising agent in anti-tumor therapy. However, a comprehensive literature search revealed a gap in the comprehensive understanding of α-Hederin. This paper aims to review the available literature on the anti-tumor mechanisms of α-Hederin, hoping to provide valuable insights for the clinical treatment of malignant tumors and the innovation of novel anti-tumor medications.

中文翻译：

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α-常春藤素在肿瘤进展中的分子机制

α-常春藤素是一种单糖五环三萜皂苷化合物，源自中药白头翁。它因其抗肿瘤、抗炎和解痉药理活性而受到广泛关注。鉴于癌症发病率不断上升以及与化疗药物相关的明显不良反应（这深刻影响了癌症患者的生活质量），迫切需要安全有效的抗肿瘤药物。传统药物及其抗癌作用近年来已成为研究的焦点。研究表明，α-常春藤素可以阻碍肿瘤细胞增殖，并阻止多种癌症的进展，包括乳腺癌、肺癌、结直肠癌和肝癌。其抗肿瘤活性的主要机制包括抑制肿瘤细胞增殖、促进肿瘤细胞凋亡和阻止细胞周期过程。目前的证据表明，α-常春藤素可以通过多种机制发挥其抗肿瘤特性，使其成为抗肿瘤治疗中很有前途的药物。然而，综合文献检索发现，对α-Hederin的全面理解存在差距。本文旨在对α-常春藤素抗肿瘤机制的现有文献进行综述，希望为恶性肿瘤的临床治疗和新型抗肿瘤药物的创新提供有价值的见解。