Paeoniflorin: a monoterpene glycoside from plants of Paeoniaceae family with diverse anticancer activities

Objectives Paeoniflorin, a representative pinane monoterpene glycoside in plants of Paeoniaceae family, possesses promising anticancer activities on diverse tumours. This paper summarized the advance of Paeoniflorin on cancers in vivo and in vitro, discussed the related molecular mechanisms, as well as suggested some perspectives of the future investigations. Key findings Anticancer activities of paeoniflorin have been comprehensively investigated, including liver cancer, gastric cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer, glioma, bladder cancer and leukaemia. Furthermore, the potential molecular mechanisms corresponding to the antitumour effects of Paeoniflorin might be related to the following aspects: inhibition of tumour cell proliferation and neovascularization, induction apoptosis, and inhibition of tumour invasion and metastasis. Paeoniflorin has wide spectrum antitumour activities; however, in vivo and clinical investigations on antitumour effect of Paeoniflorin are lacking which should be focused on further studies. Our present review on antitumour effects of Paeoniflorin would be beneficial for the further molecular mechanisms study, candidate antitumour drug development and clinical research of Paeoniflorin in the future.