Evodiamine

Evodiamine: Natural Anticancer Alkaloid

Exploring the anticancer potential of a traditional Chinese medicine compound

Key Research Findings

• Multi-Target Action: Works through multiple molecular pathways including Wnt/β-catenin and Hsp70
• Apoptosis Induction: Triggers G2/M phase arrest and programmed cell death in cancer cells
• Metastasis Prevention: Inhibits cancer cell migration and invasion via MMP suppression
• Low Toxicity: Negligible side effects on normal cells in animal studies

What is Evodiamine?

Evodiamine is a major alkaloid component found in the fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. It's currently used clinically as a traditional medicine to treat headaches, abdominal pain, vomiting and colds in Southeast Asia, but has not been clinically approved as an anticancer agent.

Traditional to Modern Medicine

While evodiamine has centuries of use in traditional medicine for digestive and pain conditions, modern research has revealed its remarkable anticancer properties, demonstrating anti-proliferative potential against a wide range of cancers through suppression of cell growth, invasion, and metastasis.

Anticancer Mechanisms

Research shows evodiamine works through multiple mechanisms to combat cancer cells while sparing normal tissue.

Cell Death & Growth Inhibition

• Demonstrates anti-proliferative potential against a wide range of cancers by suppressing cell growth, invasion, and metastasis and inducing apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo
• G2/M phase arrest is believed to be one of the major mechanisms of action for evodiamine against human cancer cells

Molecular Pathways

Wnt/β-catenin Pathway

Exerts anticancer effects through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Heat Shock Protein

Suppresses lung cancer cells by inhibiting Hsp70

Ferroptosis Induction

Induces ferroptosis in prostate cancer via TRIM26-GPX4 pathway

Metastasis Prevention

Evodiamine significantly inhibits the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells, associated with inhibition of expression of metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 9, which are key enzymes involved in cancer spread.

Cancer Types Studied

Research has examined evodiamine's effects on various cancer types, demonstrating broad-spectrum anticancer activity:

• Lung Cancer: Both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer
• Osteosarcoma: Bone cancer with aggressive metastatic potential
• Prostate Cancer: Through ferroptosis induction mechanisms
• Urothelial Cell Carcinoma: Bladder and urinary tract cancers
• Gastric Cancer: Stomach cancer cells
• Breast Cancer: Various breast cancer cell lines

Current Status & Limitations

Preclinical Stage

• Has been widely used in preclinical trials in animal models, exhibiting very negligible side effects against normal cells and effective against cancer cells
• Combinatory drug therapeutics along with evodiamine enhances the anticancer efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in various cancers by overcoming the chemo resistance and radio resistance shown by cancer cells

Challenges to Clinical Use

• Metabolic Instability: Evodiamine is susceptible to metabolism and may inhibit the activities of metabolizing enzymes, such as cytochrome P450
• Bioavailability Issues: Need to be addressed for effective therapeutic use
• Clinical Translation: No clinical trials in humans as an anticancer agent have been completed

Safety Profile

Animal studies have demonstrated that evodiamine exhibits very negligible side effects against normal cells while remaining highly effective against cancer cells. This selective toxicity makes it a promising candidate for future cancer therapy development.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Evodiamine is not approved for cancer treatment in humans and remains an experimental compound. Always consult with healthcare providers before considering any alternative or complementary cancer treatments.

Last updated: October 2025