Terpenoids and the mechanism of their anticancer effects

Abstract

Terpenoids otherwise called isoprenoids are secondary metabolites with diverse biological and pharmacological
activities. They serve as candidate compounds for drug discovery. They are classified into mono-, sesqui-, di-,
tri-, tetra-, and polyterpenoids based on their isoprenoid structural units. They exhibit anticancer properties
through various mechanisms such as cell cycle arrest induction, angiogenesis suppression, decreased tumor cell
differentiation, and apoptosis. Most terpenoids used in cancer therapy are derived from medicinal plants. This
paper reviews important plant-derived terpenoids used in cancer treatment, their medicinal plant sources, and their
mechanism of action.