Abstract:

Cantharidin is a kind of defensive substance which is synthesized by blister beetles, and it has been proven that cantharidin has special efficacy to cure several cancers, such as liver cancer and lung cancer, and some other diseases. The cantharidin can exist in free cantharidin, bound cantharidin and derivants in blister beetles, such as magnesium cantharidate, calcium cantharidate, cantharidinimide, dimethyl anhydride, hydroxyl-cantharidin, demethyl-cantharidin and so on. The volume of the chemical may vary depending on the sex, age, mating records and feeding conditions. The cantharidin measure can reach as high as 10% in some sexually matured male beetles. Though there are some research reports, no final conclusions about biosynthesis pathway of cantharidin and its distribution in the body of meloid have been achieved yet. In this article, we make a review of the cantharidin on its content, distribution, biosynthesis, metabolism and biological function in blister beetles. This review may be helpful for understanding the biosynthesis pathway of cantharidin, full excavation of meloid insect resource, guiding artificial breeding of the insects and rational use of the resources, and artificial synthesis of cantharidin.

Key words: Meloidae, blister beetles, cantharidin, distribution, biosynthesis, transfer in body, biological function