甲状腺癌是最常见的内分泌肿瘤之一。治疗方法包括手术切除术、放射性碘疗法、抑制甲状腺刺激素以及抑制激酶靶向治疗。这些治疗方法会引起不良反应。紫草具有抗氧化、抗癌、促进烧伤愈合和抗炎活性，而其主要成分为赤琥珀酸。赤琥珀酸的甲状腺癌抗癌研究发现，它通过抑制上皮-间质转化来抑制甲状腺癌细胞的迁移和浸润；诱导细胞周期停滞；通过产生过量的活性氧自由基来诱导DNA损伤和凋亡；上调Bax；增加p53的稳定性；降低Mdm2的表达；下调Slug以及MMP-2、MMP-9和MMP-14的表达；抑制Erk和Akt的磷酸化；激活p16/视网膜母细胞瘤蛋白通路，导致细胞凋亡；抑制DNMT1的表达；减少PTEN基因的甲基化；增加PTEN的表达，从而抑制迁移；增加LC3-II以诱导滤泡性甲状腺癌的自噬和凋亡；上调细胞中的βII-微管蛋白，使其对顺铂和紫杉醇产生较少的耐药性，而对其他抗癌药物没有交叉耐药性。体内研究显示，它在斯普雷格－道里大鼠、比格犬和裸鼠中是安全的。Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers；如有任何疑问，请发送邮件至epub@benthamscience.net。

Thyroid cancer is one of the most common endocrine neoplasms. Treatment methods include surgical resection, radioactive iodine therapy, inhibition of thyroid-stimulating hormone, and inhibition of kinase-based target therapies. These treatments induced adverse effects. Lithospermum officinale possesses antioxidant, anticancer, burn-healing, and anti-inflammatory activities, and Shikonin is the main ingredient. Antithyroid cancer studies of Shikonin discovered that it inhibited thyroid cancer cell migration and invasion by suppressing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition; induced cell cycle arrest; induced DNA damage and apoptosis by producing excessive reactive oxygen species; upregulated Bax; increased the stability of p53; decreased the expression of Mdm2; downregulated Slug and MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-14; repressed the phosphorylation of Erk and Akt; activated the p16/retinoblastoma protein pathway, leading to apoptosis; suppressed the expression of DNMT1; reduced the PTEN gene methylation; increased the expression of PTEN, leading to the inhibition of migration; increased LC3-II to induce autophagy and apoptosis of medullary thyroid carcinoma; and upregulated βII-tubulin in the cell to produce less resistance to cisplatin and paclitaxel, without cross-resistance to other anticancer agents. In vivo studies showed that it is safe in Sprague-Dawley rats, Beagle dogs, and nude mice.Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.