The Mechanisms of Ramulus Cinnamomi and Rhizoma Paridis in Gynecological Cancers: A Narrative Review.

BACKGROUND: Gynecological cancers mainly include ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers. Treatment continues to evolve but still suffers from high mortality rates, significant side effects, and medication resistance, making it challenging to achieve a successful outcome. Several key bioactive constituents in Rhizoma Paridis and Ramulus Cinnamomi show excellent biological activity against cancer cells. They are being developed as anti-gynecological tumor therapeutics. PURPOSE: This study aims to comprehensively review the existing data on the effectiveness of Ramulus Cinnamomi, Rhizoma Paridis, and their key active components (such as cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, coumarins, polyphyllin I, polyphyllin II, polyphyllin VI, polyphyllin VII, and polyphyllin E) in treating gynecological tumors, focusing mainly on ovarian, cervical, and endometrial cancers. The research also delves into the mechanisms behind these treatments and evaluates their limitations. RESULTS: Ramulus cinnamomi and Rhizoma Paridis, along with their primary bioactive components, have been shown to inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and endometrial cancer cells, as well as reduce tumor growth. Additionally, they have been found to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy medications and enhance the quality of life for patients through various signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: Preclinical research suggests that Rhizoma Paridis and Ramulus cinnamomi may serve as candidate drugs with potential anti-cancer value for the management of gynecological malignancies.