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Journal of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences ›› 2016, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (3): 161-169.DOI: 10.5246/jcps.2016.03.019

• Review •     Next Articles

Cerbera are coastal trees with promising anticancer properties but lethal toxicity: A short review

Eric Wei Chiang Chan1*, Siu Kuin Wong2, Hung Tuck Chan3, Shigeyuki Baba3, Mio Kezuka3   

  1. 1. Faculty of Applied Sciences, UCSI University, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
    2. School of Science, Monash University Sunway, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
    3. Secretariat, International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems, c/o Faculty of Agriculture, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, 903-0129 Japan
  • Received:2015-11-01 Revised:2015-12-03 Online:2016-03-29 Published:2015-12-23
  • Contact: Tel.: +60-3-9101-8880, E-mail: chanwc@ucsiuniversity.edu.my, erchan@yahoo.com

Abstract:

In this short review, the current knowledge on the chemical constituents and anticancer properties of Cerbera odollam and Cerbera manghas is updated with some description of their botany and uses. Although these two closely-related coastal tree species have overlapping geographical distribution, they can be distinguished by the eye colour of flowers and the shape of fruits. Chemical constituents of C.odollam and C.manghas include lignans, iridoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides (cardenolides), flavonoids, phenolic acids and steroids. Cardiac glycosides of cerberin, dehydrocerberin, neriifolin, tanghinin, deacetyltanghinin and tanghinigenin possess promising anticancer properties with apoptotic activities. However, these cardiac glycosides are also cardiotoxic. Fatal cases of suicides by ingesting Cerbera fruits or seeds have been reported in India and Sri Lanka. In two suicide cases, one in Taiwan and another in the United States, the patients recovered completely. In New Caledonia, four death-threatening cases of poisoning (two were fatal) occurred through consuming toxic coconut crabs. Taken together, both C. odollam and C. manghas are endowed with cardiac glycosides, which have useful pharmacological properties but lethal toxicity.

Key words: Sea mango, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Cytotoxic, Apoptosis, Suicides

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