Herbal Medicines Genkwadaphnin as Therapeutic Agent for Cancers and Other Human Disorders: A Review of Pharmacological Activities through Scientific Evidence

Background: Daphnane-type diterpenes are an important class of phytochemicals found to be present in the family Euphorbiaceae and Thymelaeaceae. It has anti-leukaemic, antihyperglycaemic, and anti-fertility activities in medicine. Daphne genkwa is indigenous to the Yangtze River and Yellow River of China. Daphne genkwa contains significant amounts of daphnane- type diterpenes. Phytochemical analysis of Daphne genkwa led to the isolation of flavonoids, lignins, coumarins, caffeotannic acids, and genkwadaphnin. Methods: Present review highlighted the biological potential of genkwadaphnin in medicine. All the scientific data of Daphne genkwa, and genkwadaphnin were collected from Google, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, and PubMed and analyzed in the present work to know the therapeutic potential of genkwadaphnin in medicine. Detailed pharmacological activities of genkwadaphnin were analyzed in the present work through scientific data analysis of various research works. Results: Genkwadaphnin is a daphnane diterpene ester molecule mainly isolated from the Daphne genkwa, Dendrostellera lessertii, Daphne odorata, Gnidia latifolia, and Gnidia glaucus. Genkwadaphnin has been reported to exert therapeutic potential against hepatocellular carcinoma, human colon cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, and leukemia. Further, it has a significant role in innate immunity, melanogenesis, skeletal diseases, inflammatory cytokines, and natural killer cell. However, pharmacokinetics and metabolomics aspects of genkwadaphnin were also discussed in the present work. Further, more scientific data on human clinical trials is needed to ensure the safety and efficacy of genkwadaphnin in medicine. Conclusion: In the present work, a successful review had been achieved by the above-mentioned scientific data, which signified the therapeutic potential of genkwadaphnin in medicine.