Perspectives for cancer prevention with natural compounds
Ruhul Amin ARM et al. – This review discusses the promising natural chemopreventive compounds, their molecular targets, and their mechanisms. - Why natural compounds?
- Because an ideal chemopreventive agent should be nontoxic, effective at lower doses, economical, and easily available.
- Chemopreventive properties of selected promising natural compounds:
- Tea polyphenols: Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) found in tea, the most abundant polyphenol has anticarcinogenic activity.
- Curcumin: Curcumin, isolated from the roots (rhizomes) of the plant Curcuma longa, the major yellow pigment is known for its antitumorigenic activity.
- Resveratrol: Resveratrol is a phytoalexin, a major constituent of red wine, and abundant in the grape skin.
- Lycopene: A natural antioxidant that imparts red color to tomatoes, guava, rosehip, watermelon, and pink grapefruit is known for its strong antioxidant properties, and has drawn much attention as a cancer preventing agent.
- Pomegranate: A number of in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that pomegranate has strong potential for prostate cancer chemoprevention.
- Luteolin: A flavonoid abundant in several green vegetables, such as broccoli, celery, cabbage, spinach, green pepper, and cauliflower, exhibits a wide array of pharmacologic properties ranging from anti-inflammation to anticancer effects.
- Genistein: A phytoestrogen abundant in soybeans and soy products. An inverse correlation between dietary soy consumption and the risk of prostate, breast, and endometrial cancer is established.
- Molecular targets for natural chemopreventive agents:
- p53 family members
- Nuclear Factor-Kappa B
- Activator Protein a (AP-1)
- Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription Pathway (STAT)
- Growth factors and their receptors
- Host factors/Immunoprevention
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