Anti-Breast Cancer Terpenoids of Natural Origins

Abstract Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. It is a multifactorial disease with varied diversity and complications. A number of efficacious anticancer drugs have been developed against breast cancer with distinct chemical structures. But their nonselectivity exerts serious side effects on patients. Many a times, due to these side effects, the morbidity is so high that it is intolerable. Getting a safer and effective anticancer drug is still a challenge to researchers. Terpenes are a large and diverse class of natural products possessing varied pharmacological activities. There are several potential anti-breast cancer agents from this class of compounds. Paclitaxel, one of the most successful clinical drugs against metastatic breast cancer, has emerged from natural terpenoids. The present chapter describes the potential of terpenoids as anticancer agents against breast cancer.