Skip to main content
. 2017 Jan 30;16:13. doi: 10.1186/s12943-016-0571-x

Table 1.

Mechanism of action of various natural products on AML stem cell population

Compounds Class of compound Target and mechanism Reference
Parthenolide Sesquiterpene lactone AML progenitors and CD34+/CD38- stem cell population. In vivo and in vitro. Inhibition of NF-κB, activation of tumor suppressor p53, and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). [27]
Triptolide Diterpenoid triepoxide CD34+/CD38- stem-like cells derived from KG1a cell line. In vivo and in vitro.
Generation of ROS, downregulation of Nrf2 and HIF-1α pathways.
[87]
Cantharidin Terpene Primary AML stem (CD34+) and progenitor cells. In vivo and in vitro.
Modulate expression of genes involved in survival pathways (HLF, SLUG, NFIL3 and c-myc), induces p53 and mitochondrial-caspase cascade.
[89]
Cyclopamine Steroidal jerveratrum alkaloid CD34+ cell lines and primary CD34+ AML stem cells.
Inhibition of aberrantly activated hedgehog pathway and Bcl-2 expression.
[56]
Salinomycin Monocarboxylic polyether antibiotic CD34+ CD38 KG1a AML SCs expressing functional ABC transporters P-glycoprotein, ABCG2, and ABCC11. In vitro.
Overcomes ABC transporter-mediated multidrug and apoptosis resistance.
[93]
17-N-allylamino-17-demethoxy geldanamycin (17-AAG) Geldanamycin derivative Human AML CSCs (CD34+ CD38) and murine lymphoma CSCs (c-Kit+Sca1+). In vitro.
Induce apoptosis and eliminate the colony formation capacity by disrupting the transcriptional function of HIF1α.
[95]
Kinetin riboside Cytokinin CD34+CD38 cell fraction present in primary AML samples. In vivo and in vitro.
Induces apoptosis in LSCs and prevents AML stem cell engraftment in NOD/SCID mouse model. Adenosine kinase activity is required for the anti LSC effect.
[99]
Resveratrol Polyphenolic phytoalexin AML stem-like KG1a cells. In vitro.
Upregulate expressions of NKG2D ligands (ULBP1, ULBP2 and ULBP3) and TRAIL receptor 1 leading to enhanced cytokine-induced killer cell-mediated cytolysis.
[102]
Avocatin B 17-Carbon lipid Primary AML stem (CD34+) and CD34+ cell lines. In vivo and in vitro.
Generation of ROS, mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, characterized by the release of apoptosis inducing factor and cytochrome c.
[104]