Elemene
Encyclopedia
Elemenes are a group of closely related natural chemical compound
s found in a variety of plants. The elemenes, which include α-, β-, γ-, and δ-elemene, are structural isomers of each other and are classified as sesquiterpene
s. The elemenes contribute to the floral aromas of some plants, and are used as pheromones by some insects.
β-Elemene has attracted scientific interest because of its prevalence in a variety of medicinal plants. Experiments performed in vitro
show that β-elemene has anti-proliferative effects toward some cancer cell types, indicating the possibility of its use in chemotherapy. Small scale clinical trials in China have been conducted in which benefits for cancer treatment have been reported. However, the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center states that "human trials conducted so far are of poor quality". A Cochrane Review of the available literature concluded that "there is no evidence from randomised controlled trials to confirm or refute the effectiveness of elemene as a treatment for lung cancer".
Chemical compound
A chemical compound is a pure chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemical elements that can be separated into simpler substances by chemical reactions. Chemical compounds have a unique and defined chemical structure; they consist of a fixed ratio of atoms that are held together...
s found in a variety of plants. The elemenes, which include α-, β-, γ-, and δ-elemene, are structural isomers of each other and are classified as sesquiterpene
Sesquiterpene
Sesquiterpenes are a class of terpenes that consist of three isoprene units and have the molecular formula C15H24. Like monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes may be acyclic or contain rings, including many unique combinations...
s. The elemenes contribute to the floral aromas of some plants, and are used as pheromones by some insects.
β-Elemene has attracted scientific interest because of its prevalence in a variety of medicinal plants. Experiments performed in vitro
In vitro
In vitro refers to studies in experimental biology that are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological context in order to permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms. Colloquially, these experiments...
show that β-elemene has anti-proliferative effects toward some cancer cell types, indicating the possibility of its use in chemotherapy. Small scale clinical trials in China have been conducted in which benefits for cancer treatment have been reported. However, the Memorial Sloan–Kettering Cancer Center states that "human trials conducted so far are of poor quality". A Cochrane Review of the available literature concluded that "there is no evidence from randomised controlled trials to confirm or refute the effectiveness of elemene as a treatment for lung cancer".