Toad glandular secretions and skin extractions contain many natural agents which may provide a unique resource for novel
drug development. The dried secretion from the auricular and skin glands of Chinese toad (Bufo bufo gargarizans) is named
Chansu, which has been used in
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating
infection and
inflammation for hundreds of years. The sterilized hot water extraction of dried toad skin is named
Huachansu (
Cinobufacini) which was developed for treating hepatitis B virus (HBV) and several types of
cancers. However, the mechanisms of action of
Chansu,
Huachansu, and their constituents within are not well reported. Existing studies have suggested that their anti-
inflammation and anticancer potential were via targeting Nuclear Factor (NF)-κB and its signalling pathways which are crucial hallmarks of
inflammation and
cancer in various experimental models. Here, we review some current studies of
Chansu,
Huachansu, and their compounds in terms of their use as both anti-inflammatory and
anticancer agents. We also explored the potential use of toad glandular secretions and skin extractions as alternate resources for treating human
cancers in combinational
therapies.