β-榄香烯（β-elemene）是从姜科植物温郁金Curcuma rcenyujin中提取出来的倍半萜烯类有效活性单体，为国家二类非细胞毒性抗肿瘤的药物。目前β-榄香烯在临床上用于治疗肺癌、肝癌、乳腺癌等，由于在抗肿瘤方面具有广谱、安全、有效、廉价等突出优点，其应用前景十分广阔。随着对β-榄香烯抗癌研究的不断深入，为了提高其生物利用度和抗癌活性，进行了β-榄香烯结构改造和给药剂型研究，筛选了众多活性显著的衍生物，设计了脂质体、微乳等新型给药系统，为进一步开发利用β-榄香烯提供了科学的理论指导。就目前β-榄香烯的重要衍生物、抗肿瘤活性及其抗癌机制、新型给药系统和不良反应等方面的研究进展进行系统性阐述，以期为深入研究β-榄香烯，提高其临床抗癌活性提供思路。

β-elemene is the sesquiterpene active monomer, as a national second-class non-cell toxic antitumor drugs which extracted from Zingiberaceae Curcuma rcenyujin. Moreover, β-elemene is currently used in clinic for treatment of lung cancer, liver cancer as well as breast cancer, and so on. Because of its broad-spectrum, safe, efficient, economical and other outstanding advantages in antitumor activities, leading to a broad application prospect in clinic. With the deep study of component and anticancer mechanisms of β-elemene, in order to promote its bioavailability and anticancer activity, researchers have screened a great deal of significant effective derivatives, and designed its liposome, microemulsion and other new drug delivery systems, which provide scientific theoretical guidance for further development and utilization of β-elemene. In this study, a systematic illustration was made for the current advance of pharmacological effects and mechanisms of β-elemene on treating cancer. In addition, the important derivatives, new drug delivery systems, and adverse reactions of β-elemene also be clarified, aiming to provide ideas for further scientific research and innovation of β-elemene.

国家自然科学基金青年项目（81503306）；苏州市医疗器械与新医药专项（ZXY2013022）