: An anti-cancer traditional Chinese medicine.

, derived from the rhizome of , and , was called Ezhu in China. In the past, extracts were obtained through water decoction or alternative methods, which showed significant anti-cancer effects. However, the mixed extracts contain various compound components of , leading to an ambiguous mechanism of action for extracts anti-cancer. Contemporary researchers have extracted the chemical components of separately for experimental verification of its active ingredients in the anti-cancer field. Numerous studies demonstrated that curcumol, germacrone, -elemene, and curcumin in extracts have significant governing effects in anti-cancer activities. Pharmacological studies have shown that suppresses cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, triggering apoptosis and regulating cellular autophagy to achieve anticancer effects. Here, we summarized the research progress of on anti-cancer effects from 2013 to 2022, aiming to explore the deeper molecular mechanisms of 's active components in cancer treatment.