Recent Patents on Anticancer Potential of Helenalin.

BACKGROUND Arnica montana containing helenalin as its principal active constituent, is the most widely used plant to treat various ailments. Recent studies indicate that Arnica and helenalin provides significant health benefits, including anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, immunomodulatory and most important, anticancer properties. OBJECTIVE The objective of the present revie w is to overview the recent patents of Arnica and its principal constituent helenalin, including new methods of isolation, and their use in the prevention of cancer and other ailments. METHODS Current prose and patents emphasizing the anticancer potential of helenalin and Arnica, incorporated as anti-inflammary agent in anticancer preparations have been identified and reviewed with particular emphasis on their scientific impact and novelty. RESULTS Helenalin has shown its anticancer potential to treat multiple types of tumors, both in vitro and in vivo. It has also portrayed synergistic effects when given in combination with other anticancer drugs or natural compounds. New purification/isolation techniques are also developing with novel helenalin formulations and its synthetic derivatives have been developed to increase its solubility and bioavailability. CONCLUSION The promising anticancer potential of helenalin in various preclinical studies may open new avenues for therapeutic interventions in different tumors. Thus clinical trials validating its tumor suppressing and chemopreventive activities particularly in conjunction with standard therapies, are immediately required.