A naturally occurring plant extract, podophyllotoxin has a wide range of derivatives that have demonstrated potential in a number of medical applications. The pharmacological characteristics of podophyllotoxin, a naturally occurring lignan present in the roots of some plant species, such as Podophyllum peltatum and Podophyllum emodi, have been the subject of much research. The creation of derivatives of podophyllotoxin, which have better therapeutic effects and less toxicity than the original compound, is one important field of study. Numerous variants of podophyllotoxin have surfaced as promising options for a range of medical uses, especially in oncology. Two well-known derivatives that have been used to treat cancer for many years are etoposide and teniposide. Although these derivatives have undergone modifications to enhance their pharmacokinetic characteristics and augment their efficacy in targeting cancer cells, they nevertheless maintain the essential structure of podophyllotoxin. A crucial part of the therapy plans for many malignancies, such as testicular, lung, and lymphoma tumors, is etoposide, a semisynthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin. Topoisomerase II is an enzyme necessary for DNA replication and repair, and it functions by blocking it. Etoposide disrupts this pathway, causing cancer cells to undergo cell cycle arrest and death, which eventually results in tumor shrinkage.Teniposide, another semisynthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin, functions similarly to etoposide. It has been effective in treating various cancers as well as juvenile acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Teniposide is a useful alternative in combination therapy for specific cancer types because of its ability to target topoisomerase II. In addition to teniposide and etoposide, scientists are still investigating new derivatives of podophyllotoxin in an effort to enhance therapeutic success and minimize adverse effects. Preclinical research on GL-331, one such derivative, has produced encouraging findings. GL-331, like its predecessors, targets topoisomerase II to display strong cytotoxic effects against cancer cells. Furthermore, GL-331 has proven to be capable of overcoming multidrug resistance, which is a frequent obstacle in the treatment of cancer.FL-120B, another derivative, has attracted attention due to its possible use in the treatment of prostate cancer. FL-120B is a possibility for additional research in clinical settings as preclinical studies have demonstrated its strong anticancer efficacy. In conclusion, a potential direction in the field of cancer therapies is the development of derivatives of podophyllotoxin. Some derivatives, including GL-331, FL-120B, teniposide, and etoposide, show promise in improving therapeutic efficacy while lowering side effects. The secret to improving prognoses for patients with different types of cancer is ongoing research on novel compounds and their methods of action.
