mylabris

**Mylabris** is a traditional Chinese medicine consisting of the dried bodies of blister beetles, primarily from the species Mylabris phalerata and Mylabris cichorii. The main bioactive component of mylabris is cantharidin, a terpenoid lactone. Mylabris and its preparations have a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine, primarily for their antitumor properties and ability to stimulate bone marrow. Modern research demonstrates that mylabris exhibits anti-cancer activities, particularly against leukemia and other cancers (e.g., liver, pancreatic, and bladder cancers), and contains several active compounds, such as cantharidin, linoleic acid, and oleic acid. Mechanistically, mylabris and its constituents exert pharmacological effects mainly by acting on the p53 signaling pathway, targeting the TP53 and PTEN genes, leading to DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. Cantharidin, the principal medicinal component, is a potent inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A (PP1, PP2A), which affects cell cycle regulation and promotes tumor cell death. Major adverse effects include irritant toxicity, particularly to the urinary tract[1][2][4].

Other names

mylabrisChinese blister beetleMylabris phalerataMylabris cichorii