Natural Products as Anticancer Agents

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruby Varghese ◽  
Yogesh Bharat. Dalvi

Abstract:: Medicinal plants and mushrooms have alwaysfascinated the world as an attractive source of natural compounds for cancer therapy. From ancient times, they have been valued as gourmet food and folk medicine in Oriental practice. For over 40 years, world has witnessed the overwhelming interest of western scientific fraternity in pharmaceutical potential of natural products in combating cancer. The plants and mushrooms credited with success against angiogenesis and cancer metastasis belong to certain Plants including Catharanthus roseus, Aloe Vera,Annona muricata,Curcuma longa, Withania somnifera, and Berberis and mushrooms such as Agaricus,Antrodia,Ganoderma,Grifolafrondosa,Hericiumerinaceus,Phel-linuslinteus, and Trametesversicolor /Coriolusversicolor. The anti-cancer compounds play a pivotal role as free radical scavenger and reactive oxygen species inducer, mitotic spindle kinase inhibitor, anti-mitotic, angiogenesis inhibitor, topoi-somerase inhibitor, apoptosis inducers, and eventually checking cancer invasion, migration and proliferation. The present review updates and focuses on the recent findings of the pharmacologically potential bioactive compounds, their anti-tumor potential, and underlying mechanism of preventing cancer metastasis and angiogenesisin order to raise knowledge for fur-ther investigations to develop cancer therapeutics with no adverse side effects The mounting experimental evidences at pre-clinical and clinical levels from various research groups across the globe, regarding prevention of cancer metastasis by natural products unarguably make it a fast-track research area worth mass attention.

Author(s):  
Jitendra Gupta ◽  
Ashima Ahuja ◽  
Reena Gupta

Background: Cancer is one of the leading causes of an increasing number of death incidences in modern society. As the population increases, there is increased thrust for screening newer anticancer (phytoconstituents) agents to manage cancers. Around 35000 herbal phytoconstituents are obtained from plants, animals and marine sources to create awareness of green therapy in managing, reducing, minimizing side effects of modern chemotherapeutics and radiation therapy. The herbal plants are the richest sources of natural remedies and bioactive compounds that promote medicines' alternative systems as a green approach for managing various cancers. The terpenoids, saponins, volatile oils, and flavonoid phytoconstituents are most efficiently used to manage cancer with minimal side effects. Objective: The objectives of the present study are to investigate the efficacious, potent and safe use of herbal phytoconstituents extracts in the management of cancers and study their mechanism of action through alteration of transcription proteins, blocking G-2/M phase, distortion of tubulin structure, generation of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, cell cycle arrest, anti-proliferation induced cell apoptosis for target specific cancer treatment. The information was collected from databases such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, Academia, MedLine, and WoS. Methods: The Literature was surveyed and screened keywords like cancer therapeutics, metastasis, proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell lines, phytoconstituents for cancer management, and related disorders. Results: The findings suggested that the crude extracts act as an antioxidant, free radical scavenger, or anti-aging agent exploited in the management of cancers along with treatment of other infectious diseases like ulcers, gout, liver diseases, respiratory tract infection, renal disorders, blood disorders, CVD, anti-inflammatory and several wound infections. Conclusion: The phytoactive moieties having herbal extracts help improve the compromised immunity status of affected patients and provide measures for scientific studies of newer anticancer agents in herbal industries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Roberts ◽  
Robert Brown ◽  
L. Buja ◽  
Priya Weerasinghe

Turmeric (Curcuma Longa) has a near 4000-year history of extensive medical use in South Asia. Its main physiologically active phytochemical is curcumin (diferuloylmethane), derived from the rhizome of turmeric. Curcumin is a hydrophobic polyphenol with a diketone moiety connecting two phenoxy rings. It is widely available, and exerts systemic and pleiotropic effects via several key mechanisms. Most famously, it is known to inhibit pro-inflammatory pathways such as PI3k/akt/NF-kB activation. It is also a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger via a sequential proton loss electron transfer mechanism in ionizing solvents due to its extended conjugating ability across the entire molecule, and its ability to induce NRF-2. It has been implicated in the treatment of diseases ranging from asthma to various cancers, and is also a broad spectrum anti-microbial. COVID-19 is a novel beta-coronavirus that was declared a pandemic by the WHO in March, 2020. It is primarily a respiratory disorder, but it can spread hematogenously and effect many other organs such as the heart, nervous system, and kidneys. There is a significant intersection between the clinical manifestations of COVID-19 and curcumin’s therapeutic effects. In addition, curcumin has been shown to inhibit initial viral infectivity. Thus, there is potential for curcumin to safely both prevent and treat COVID-19 infection across the globe.


Author(s):  
Paulina Iwan ◽  
Jan Stepniak ◽  
Malgorzata Karbownik-Lewinska

Abstract. Iodine is essential for thyroid hormone synthesis. Under normal iodine supply, calculated physiological iodine concentration in the thyroid is approx. 9 mM. Either potassium iodide (KI) or potassium iodate (KIO3) are used in iodine prophylaxis. KI is confirmed as absolutely safe. KIO3 possesses chemical properties suggesting its potential toxicity. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an effective antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Study aims: to evaluate potential protective effects of melatonin against oxidative damage to membrane lipids (lipid peroxidation, LPO) induced by KI or KIO3 in porcine thyroid. Homogenates of twenty four (24) thyroids were incubated in presence of either KI or KIO3 without/with melatonin (5 mM). As melatonin was not effective against KI-induced LPO, in the next step only KIO3 was used. Homogenates were incubated in presence of KIO3 (200; 100; 50; 25; 20; 15; 10; 7.5; 5.0; 2.5; 1.25 mM) without/with melatonin or 17ß-estradiol. Five experiments were performed with different concentrations of melatonin (5.0; 2.5; 1.25; 1.0; 0.625 mM) and one with 17ß-estradiol (1.0 mM). Malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA) concentration (LPO index) was measured spectrophotometrically. KIO3 increased LPO with the strongest damaging effect (MDA + 4-HDA level: ≈1.28 nmol/mg protein, p < 0.05) revealed at concentrations of around 15 mM, thus corresponding to physiological iodine concentrations in the thyroid. Melatonin reduced LPO (MDA + 4-HDA levels: from ≈0.97 to ≈0,76 and from ≈0,64 to ≈0,49 nmol/mg protein, p < 0.05) induced by KIO3 at concentrations of 10 mM or 7.5 mM. Conclusion: Melatonin can reduce very strong oxidative damage to membrane lipids caused by KIO3 used in doses resulting in physiological iodine concentrations in the thyroid.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Kartini Kartini ◽  
Azminah Azminah

In order to prepare standardized extract, optimization of extraction conditions of grape seed has been done. These conditions are type of menstrum (50, 70 and 96% of ethanolic solution), length of extraction (1, 2 and 4 hours) also method of evaporation (reduced pressure and opened air). Activity on free radical scavenger used as parameters to determine optimum conditions. Based on EC50 (concentration which scavenge 50% amount of free radical) can be concluded that optimum condition for extracting antioxidant active compound from grape seed are 70% ethanolic solution as menstrum, length of extraction 1 hour and evaporation on opened air use water bath.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (32) ◽  
pp. 2970-2983
Author(s):  
Samuel J.S. Rubin ◽  
Nir Qvit

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of peptides found across a wide array of organisms that play key roles in host defense. AMPs induce selective death in target cells and orchestrate specific or nonspecific immune responses. Many AMPs exhibit native anticancer activity in addition to antibacterial activity, and others have been engineered as antineoplastic agents. We discuss the use of AMPs in the detection and treatment of cancer as well as mechanisms of AMP-induced cell death. We present key examples of cathelicidins and transferrins, which are major AMP families. Further, we discuss the critical roles of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) in cancer and how AMPs are well-suited to target PPIs based on their unique drug-like properties not exhibited by small molecules or antibodies. While peptides, including AMPs, can have limited stability and bioavailability, these issues can be overcome by peptide backbone modification or cyclization (e.g., stapling) and by the use of delivery systems such as cellpenetrating peptides (CPPs), respectively. We discuss approaches for optimizing drug properties of peptide and peptidomimetic leads (modified peptides), providing examples of promising techniques that may be applied to AMPs. These molecules represent an exciting resource as anticancer agents with unique therapeutic advantages that can target challenging mechanisms involving PPIs. Indeed, AMPs are suitable drug leads for further development of cancer therapeutics, and many studies to this end are underway.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 567-574
Author(s):  
Huck Jun Hong ◽  
Suw Young Ly

Background: Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a biosynthesized neurotoxin that exhibits powerful anticancer and analgesic abilities by inhibiting voltage-gated sodium channels that are crucial for cancer metastasis and pain delivery. However, for the toxin’s future medical applications to come true, accurate, inexpensive, and real-time in vivo detection of TTX remains as a fundamental step. Methods: In this study, highly purified TTX extracted from organs of Takifugu rubripes was injected and detected in vivo of mouse organs (liver, heart, and intestines) using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (SWASV) for the first time. In vivo detection of TTX was performed with auxiliary, reference, and working herring sperm DNA-immobilized carbon nanotube sensor systems. Results: DNA-immobilization and optimization of amplitude (V), stripping time (sec), increment (mV), and frequency (Hz) parameters for utilized sensors amplified detected peak currents, while highly sensitive in vivo detection limits, 3.43 µg L-1 for CV and 1.21 µg L-1 for SWASV, were attained. Developed sensors herein were confirmed to be more sensitive and selective than conventional graphite rodelectrodes modified likewise. A linear relationship was observed between injected TTX concentration and anodic spike peak height. Microscopic examination displayed coagulation and abnormalities in mouse organs, confirming the powerful neurotoxicity of extracted TTX. Conclusion: These results established the diagnostic measures for TTX detection regarding in vivo application of neurotoxin-deviated anticancer agents and analgesics, as well as TTX from food poisoning and environmental contamination.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1054
Author(s):  
Torsten R. Goesch ◽  
Nancy A. Wilson ◽  
Weifeng Zeng ◽  
Bret M. Verhoven ◽  
Weixiong Zhong ◽  
...  

Allograft kidney transplantation, which triggers host cellular- and antibody-mediated rejection of the kidney, is a major contributor to kidney damage during transplant. Here, we asked whether PrC-210 would suppress damage seen in allograft kidney transplant. Brown Norway (BN) rat kidneys were perfused in situ (UW Solution) with or without added 30 mM PrC-210, and then immediately transplanted into Lewis (LEW) rats. 20 h later, the transplanted BN kidneys and LEW rat plasma were analyzed. Kidney histology, and kidney/serum levels of several inflammation-associated cytokines, were measured to assess mismatch-related kidney pathology, and PrC-210 protective efficacy. Twenty hours after the allograft transplants: (i) significant histologic kidney tubule damage and mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration were seen in allograft kidneys; (ii) kidney function metrics (creatinine and BUN) were significantly elevated; (iii) significant changes in key cytokines, i.e., TIMP-1, TNF-alpha and MIP-3A/CCL20, and kidney activated caspase levels were seen. In PrC-210-treated kidneys and recipient rats, (i) kidney histologic damage (Banff Scores) and mononuclear infiltration were reduced to untreated background levels; (ii) creatinine and BUN were significantly reduced; and (iii) activated caspase and cytokine changes were significantly reduced, some to background. In conclusion, the results suggest that PrC-210 could provide broadly applicable organ protection for many allograft transplantation conditions; it could protect transplanted kidneys during and after all stages of the transplantation process—from organ donation, through transportation, re-implantation and the post-operative inflammation—to minimize acute and chronic rejection.


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