Petasin

Petasin belongs to a group of spasmolytic and antiphlogistically active bicyclic sesquiterpenes (petasins), which are mainly found in extracts of Petsides hybridus, the common or common butterbur. Besides petasin, other bicyclic sesquiterpenes are found in extracts of Petsides hybridus such as: neopetasin, isopetasin. The petasins are essentially determining the efficacy of Petasitidis rhizoma.

In experimental studies, petasins have an anti-inflammatory effect, inhibit phosphodiesterase and reduce albumin-induced allergic reactions. In other studies, an anti-allergic effect, possibly through inhibition of eosinophil granulocytes, was demonstrated. In vitro studies, petasin significantly inhibited proliferation and migration of human colon carcinoma cell lines and induced apoptosis . The results suggest that petasin is a potential candidate for colon cancer therapy (Lyu X et al. 2019). Further results suggest similar effects in prostate carcinoma and melanoma (Wang ZH et al. 2015; Guo L et al. 2020).

1. Chang LL et al (2002) Effects of S-petasin on corticosterone release in rats. Chin J Physiol 45:137-142.
2. Guo L et al. (2020) S-petasin induces apoptosis and inhibits cell migration through activation of p53 pathway signaling in melanoma B16F10 cells and A375 cells. Arch Biochem Biophys 692:108519.
3. Lee KP et al.(2015) Therapeutic effects of s-petasin on disease models of asthma and peritonitis. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 23:45-52.
4. Lyu X et al. (2019) Inhibitory effects of petasin on human colon carcinoma cells mediated by inactivation of Akt/mTOR pathway. Chin Med J (Engl) 132(9):1071-1078
5. Shih CH et al. (2011) S-Petasin, the Main Sesquiterpene of Petasites formosanus, Inhibits Phosphodiesterase Activity and Suppresses Ovalbumin-Induced Airway Hyperresponsiveness. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011:132374.
6. Thomet OA et al (2001) Differential inhibition of inflammatory effector functions by petasin, isopetasin and neopetasin in human eosinophils. Clin Exp Allergy 31:1310-1320.
7. Wang ZH et al (2015) Cytotoxic effect of s-petasin and iso-s-petasin on the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells. Anticancer Res 35:191-199.