Description
β-Elemene is a sesquiterpene found in various plant sources. This compound exhibits anti-angiogenic and anticancer chemotherapeutic properties by suppressing Notch-1 and decreasing the expression and phosphorylation of Smad3 and altering TGF-β 1 signaling. β-Elemene also displays anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, suppressing differentiation of Th17 cells and decreasing levels of IL-17, IL-6, and IL-23 in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. This compound also induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in a wide variety of cancer cell lines.