Ardipusilloside is a triterpenoid saponin isolated from Ardisia pusilla. Most saponins have anti-tumor

anti-bacterial and other biological activities

and their anti-tumor effects have important research value and attractive developing prospects. This article investigates the literatures on ardipusilloside

and analyzes its anti-tumor mechanism. Researches show that ardipusilloside has anti-tumor activity

especially in glioma cells. it induced tumor cells apoptosis via promoting Fas/FasL expression and Caspase-3/Caspase-8 activation

promoting Bax expression

inhibiting Bcl-2 expression

and BAD dephosphorylation pathways and nuclear Ca2+ concentration. It induced tumor cells autophagy via promoting Beclin-1 and LC-3 expression;it induced tumor cells invasion and metastasis via inhibiting MMP-2/MMP-9 expression and activity of E-cadherin. At the same time

in vivo pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic study also confirmed its anti-tumor activity. This review summarized the in vitro anti-tumor mechanism and in vivo anti-tumor research progress on ardipusilloside

in order to provide a reference for tumor treatment of pre-clinical studies.