Ginkgetin from Ginkgo biloba: mechanistic insights into anticancer efficacy

Abstract The extraction of anticancer agents from medicinal plants represents a highly promising research frontier. Ginkgetin, a natural biflavone, is one of the effective pharmacological components of Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBLs). This natural product exhibits significant anti-cancer efficacy agains...

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Main Authors: Bei Xiong, Jin-Jian Lu, Hongwei Guo, Mingqing Huang, Ting Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-08-01
Series:Natural Products and Bioprospecting
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-025-00535-6
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author Bei Xiong
Jin-Jian Lu
Hongwei Guo
Mingqing Huang
Ting Li
author_facet Bei Xiong
Jin-Jian Lu
Hongwei Guo
Mingqing Huang
Ting Li
author_sort Bei Xiong
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The extraction of anticancer agents from medicinal plants represents a highly promising research frontier. Ginkgetin, a natural biflavone, is one of the effective pharmacological components of Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBLs). This natural product exhibits significant anti-cancer efficacy against a variety of cancer cells in vitro and demonstrates a potent inhibitory impact on tumor growth in vivo without severe toxicity. Additionally, ginkgetin synergizes with chemotherapy drugs or adjuvant therapies to potentiate antitumor effects and reduce side effects. These compelling findings underscore Ginkgetin's potential as a promising candidate for novel anti-cancer therapeutics. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the remarkable anticancer effects of ginkgetin and elucidates its multifaceted anticancer mechanisms, including inducing cell cycle arrest, triggering programmed cell death, and preventing invasion and angiogenesis. From a molecular mechanism perspective, ginkgetin exerts anti-cancer activity by modulating critical signaling pathways (e.g. JAK/STAT, Wnt/β-catenin, AKT/GSK-3β, MAPKs, and estrogen receptor pathways) and regulating microRNA expression levels. Furthermore, target identification, research limitations, future directions, and application prospects are comprehensively outlined, aiming to facilitate the clinical translation of ginkgetin. Graphical Abstract
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institution Kabale University
issn 2192-2195
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language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher SpringerOpen
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series Natural Products and Bioprospecting
spelling doaj-art-a4882ccc1b0048f8a9faa8893e4ddb172025-08-20T03:43:37ZengSpringerOpenNatural Products and Bioprospecting2192-21952192-22092025-08-0115111610.1007/s13659-025-00535-6Ginkgetin from Ginkgo biloba: mechanistic insights into anticancer efficacyBei Xiong0Jin-Jian Lu1Hongwei Guo2Mingqing Huang3Ting Li4State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauGuangxi Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules Research and Evaluation & Pharmaceutical College, Guangxi Medical UniversityCollege of Pharmacy, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese MedicineState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of MacauAbstract The extraction of anticancer agents from medicinal plants represents a highly promising research frontier. Ginkgetin, a natural biflavone, is one of the effective pharmacological components of Ginkgo biloba leaves (GBLs). This natural product exhibits significant anti-cancer efficacy against a variety of cancer cells in vitro and demonstrates a potent inhibitory impact on tumor growth in vivo without severe toxicity. Additionally, ginkgetin synergizes with chemotherapy drugs or adjuvant therapies to potentiate antitumor effects and reduce side effects. These compelling findings underscore Ginkgetin's potential as a promising candidate for novel anti-cancer therapeutics. Therefore, this review systematically summarizes the remarkable anticancer effects of ginkgetin and elucidates its multifaceted anticancer mechanisms, including inducing cell cycle arrest, triggering programmed cell death, and preventing invasion and angiogenesis. From a molecular mechanism perspective, ginkgetin exerts anti-cancer activity by modulating critical signaling pathways (e.g. JAK/STAT, Wnt/β-catenin, AKT/GSK-3β, MAPKs, and estrogen receptor pathways) and regulating microRNA expression levels. Furthermore, target identification, research limitations, future directions, and application prospects are comprehensively outlined, aiming to facilitate the clinical translation of ginkgetin. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-025-00535-6GinkgetinGinkgo bilobaBiflavonesNatural productAnti-cancerMechanism
spellingShingle Bei Xiong
Jin-Jian Lu
Hongwei Guo
Mingqing Huang
Ting Li
Ginkgetin from Ginkgo biloba: mechanistic insights into anticancer efficacy
Natural Products and Bioprospecting
Ginkgetin
Ginkgo biloba
Biflavones
Natural product
Anti-cancer
Mechanism
title Ginkgetin from Ginkgo biloba: mechanistic insights into anticancer efficacy
title_full Ginkgetin from Ginkgo biloba: mechanistic insights into anticancer efficacy
title_fullStr Ginkgetin from Ginkgo biloba: mechanistic insights into anticancer efficacy
title_full_unstemmed Ginkgetin from Ginkgo biloba: mechanistic insights into anticancer efficacy
title_short Ginkgetin from Ginkgo biloba: mechanistic insights into anticancer efficacy
title_sort ginkgetin from ginkgo biloba mechanistic insights into anticancer efficacy
topic Ginkgetin
Ginkgo biloba
Biflavones
Natural product
Anti-cancer
Mechanism
url https://doi.org/10.1007/s13659-025-00535-6
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