Cancer remains a major public health threat. The mitigation of the associated morbidity and mortality remains a major research focus. From a molecular biological perspective,
cancer is defined as uncontrolled cell division and abnormal cell growth caused by various gene mutations. Therefore, there remains an urgent need to develop safe and effective
antitumor drugs. The antitumor effect of
plant extracts, which are characterized by relatively low toxicity and adverse effect, has attracted significant attention. For example, increasing attention has been paid to the antitumor effects of
tetramethylpyrazine (
TMP), the active component of the Chinese medicine Chuanqiong, which can affect
tumor cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion,
metastasis, and angiogenesis, as well as reverse chemotherapeutic resistance in
neoplasms, thereby triggering antitumor effects. Moreover,
TMP can be used in combination with chemotherapeutic agents to enhance their effects and reduce the side effect associated with
chemotherapy. Herein, we review the antitumor effects of
TMP to provide a theoretical basis and foundation for the further exploration of its underlying antitumor mechanisms and promoting its clinical application.