beta-Elemene

beta-Elemene is a sesquiterpene isolated from the essential oils of the Chinese herb, Curcuma aromatica Salisb. It has been found to have antitumor activity against a number of human cancer cells including human hepatoma HepG2, human malignant brain tumor, T24 bladder carcinoma cells. It induces apoptosis in human renal-cell carcinoma 786-0 cells through inhibition of MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signalling pathways and in glioblastoma cells by inhibiting Hsp90/Raf-1 molecular complex.