Phenazines and cancer

Natural Product Reports Pub Date: 2012-02-15 DOI: 10.1039/C2NP00079B

Abstract

Covering: 2000 to 2011

Phenazines are a large group of natural and synthesised nitrogen-containing heterocycles, including more than 100 different compounds of natural origin and over 6000 synthetic compounds. Many of these compounds have been investigated as potential anti-cancer agents. Despite a large number of research publications, no recent attempt to summarise and critically evaluate the experimental findings relating to the anti-cancer activity of this class of compounds has been made. The present review fills this gap in the literature and discusses both natural and synthetic phenazines with a critical focus on in vitro, in vivo and available clinical anti-cancer activities of these compounds.

Graphical abstract: Phenazines and cancer
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