斑蝥爲傳統中醫外科常用有毒性的藥物，其性味辛寒有毒。斑蝥主成份斑蝥素經近代學者研究具有很好的抗癌作用，但副作用大，有上消化道黏膜潰爛出血，尿血，排尿困難，腎衰竭，急性血管壞死等問題，針對上述副作用，近年來專家學者研了不少斑蝥素衍生物，並從事許多斑蝥素衍生物的實驗研究，發現去甲基斑蝥素可保進音癌細胞凋亡，臨床使用無斑蝥素的副作用，是具有研發價值的抗癌新藥物。

Mylabris is a toxic herb usually used to external medicine in traditional Chinese Medicine. The qi and flavor of mylabris are acrid, cold, and toxic. The chief component of mylabris is cantharidin with anti-cancer effect in update scholar research. The side effects of mylabris pharmacy contained upper G-I tract mucosa ulceration and bleeding, hematuria, urine difficulty, renal failure, and acute vascular necrosis. Owing above side effects, cantharidin analogues are discovered and engaged in many experimental studies by recent scholars.. Results demonstrated that norcantharidin can enhance cancer cell apoptosis. Norcantharidin is no side effects in clinic utility and as a new anti-cancer agent worthy of further research.