Letter to the editor

An up-to-date review of decursin and its anti-cancer activities

Chang Ha Park¹[*]

EXCLI J 2025;24:Doc1520



Decursin (a pyranocoumarin compound) is a coumarin derivative found in Angelica gigas, particularly in its roots. The biosynthesis of decursin is primarily routed through the phenylpropanoid pathway, which is also responsible for the generation of several aromatic amino acids. Phenylalanine undergoes deamination by phenylalanine ammonia-lyase to produce cinnamic acid, which is subsequently hydroxylated at the para-position by cinnamate 4-hydroxylase to yield p-coumaric acid. Additional hydroxylation steps convert this intermediate into 2,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid, a key precursor for the formation of the coumarin skeleton and, ultimately, umbelliferone. The attachment of a 2-methylbut-2-ene side chain results in the formation of 7-demethylsuberosin, which then undergoes cyclization to generate decursinol. Subsequent modifications of decursinol give rise to its isomeric derivatives, decursin and decursinol angelate (Sestito et al., 2024[15]).

Decursin has gained significant attention as a potent antitumor agent owing to its substantial inhibitory effects on cancer progression and low toxicity in normal tissues (Hayashi et al., 2023[6]). Moreover, decursin exhibits anti-cancer effects across a wide spectrum of malignancies, including pancreatic, cervical, gastric, colorectal, prostate, liver, esophageal, head and neck, brain (glioblastoma), ovarian, non-small-cell lung, and inflammation-associated colorectal and skin cancers, B-cell lymphoma, FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia, and hypoxia-driven tumors, underscoring its broad potential as a multi-targeted therapeutic agent. This review synthesizes recent advances in decursin research, with a particular focus on its anti-cancer mechanisms and therapeutic properties (Table 1(Tab. 1); References in Table 1: Ahmed et al., 2020[1]; Bhat et al., 2023[2]; Choi et al., 2016[3]; Fang et al., 2025[4]; Ge et al., 2020[5]; Joo et al., 2022[7]; Kim et al., 2016[10]; Kim et al., 2018[9]; Kim et al., 2021[11]; Kim et al., 2024[8]; Kweon et al., 2020[12]; Li et al., 2018[13]; Oh et al., 2019[14]; Yang et al., 2023[16]; Zhang et al., 2025[17]; Zhu et al., 2021[18]).

Declaration

Acknowledgments

Funding for this paper was provided by Namseoul University year 2025.

Conflicts of interest

The author declares no conflict of interest.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Assisted Technology

The author did not use artificial intelligence-based technologies.

References

1. Ahmed MB, Islam SU, Lee YS. Decursin negatively regulates LPS-induced upregulation of the TLR4 and JNK signaling stimulated by the expression of PRP4 in vitro. Anim Cells Syst. 2020;24(1):44–52

2. Bhat TA, Dheeraj A, Nambiar DK, Singh SP, Yim DS, Singh RP. Decursin inhibits EGFR–ERK1/2 signaling axis in advanced human prostate carcinoma cells. Prostate. 2023;83(6):534–46

3. Choi HS, Cho SG, Kim MK, Kim MS, Moon SH, Kim IH, et al. Decursin in Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) enhances doxorubicin chemosensitivity in NCI/ADR-RES ovarian cancer cells via inhibition of P-glycoprotein expression. Phytother Res. 2016;30(12):2020–26

4. Fang C, Wu L, Yang X, Xie K, Zhang P, Feng Y, et al. Decursin suppresses esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression via orchestrated cell cycle deceleration, apoptotic activation, and oncoprotein degradation. Int J Mol Sci. 2025;26(11):5391

5. Ge Y, Yoon SH, Jang H, Jeong JH, Lee YM. Decursin promotes HIF-1α proteasomal degradation and immune responses in hypoxic tumour microenvironment. Phytomedicine. 2020;78:153318

6. Hayashi D, Shirai T, Terauchi R, Tsuchida S, Mizoshiri N, Mori Y, et al. A natural organic compound “Decursin” has both antitumor and renal protective effects: treatment for osteosarcoma. J Oncol. 2023;2023(1):5445802

7. Joo M, Heo JB, Kim S, Kim N, Jeon HJ, An Y, et al. Decursin inhibits tumor progression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by downregulating CXCR7 expression in vitro. Oncol Rep. 2022;47(2):1–11

8. Kim D, Go SH, Song Y, Lee DK, Park JR. Decursin induces G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through reactive oxygen species–mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress in human colorectal cancer cells in vitro and xenograft models. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(18):9939

9. Kim E, Nam J, Chang W, Zulfugarov IS, Okhlopkova ZM, Olennikov D, et al. Angelica gigas Nakai and decursin downregulate Myc expression to promote cell death in B-cell lymphoma. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):10590

10. Kim J, Yun M, Kim EO, Jung DB, Won G, Kim B, et al. Decursin enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis through oxidative stress–mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress signalling in non-small cell lung cancers. Br J Pharmacol. 2016;173(6):1033–44

11. Kim S, Lee SI, Kim N, Joo M, Lee KH, Lee MW, et al. Decursin inhibits cell growth and autophagic flux in gastric cancer via suppression of cathepsin C. Am J Cancer Res. 2021;11(4):1304–18

12. Kweon B, Han YH, Kee JY, Mun JG, Jeon HD, Yoon DH, et al. Effect of Angelica gigas Nakai ethanol extract and decursin on human pancreatic cancer cells. Molecules. 2020;25(9):2028

13. Li J, Wang H, Wang L, Tan R, Zhu M, Zhong X, et al. Decursin inhibits the growth of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells via Hippo/YAP signaling pathway. Phytother Res. 2018;32(12):2456–65

14. Oh ST, Lee S, Hua C, Koo BS, Pak SC, Kim DI, et al. Decursin induces apoptosis in glioblastoma cells, but not in glial cells via a mitochondria-related caspase pathway. Korean J Physiol Pharmacol. 2019;23(1):29–35

15. Sestito S, Ibba R, Riu F, Carpi S, Carta A, Manera C, et al. Anticancer potential of decursin, decursinol angelate, and decursinol from Angelica gigas Nakai: A comprehensive review and future therapeutic prospects. Food Sci Nutr. 2024;12(10):6970–89

16. Yang Y, Hu YE, Zhao MY, Jiang YF, Fu X, You FM. Decursin affects proliferation, apoptosis, and migration of colorectal cancer cells through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi (China J Chin Mater Med). 2023;48(9):2334–42

17. Zhang T, Li Y, Liao W, Mou Y, Zhan X, Hu Q, et al. Decursin induces FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia cell apoptosis by increasing the expression of the ubiquitin-conjugase UBE2L6. Cell Commun Signal. 2025;23(1):162

18. Zhu ML, Li JC, Wang L, Zhong X, Zhang YW, Tan RZ, et al. Decursin inhibits the growth of HeLa cervical cancer cells through PI3K/Akt signaling. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2021;23(6):584–95

 

 

 

Table 1: Overview of recent studies on the biological and pharmacological activities of decursin

[*] Corresponding Author:

Chang Ha Park, Department of Smart Farm, Namseoul University, 91 Daehak-ro, Seonghwan-eup, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do 31020, Republic of Korea; Tel.: +82-41-580-3254, eMail: parkch@nsu.ac.kr