Plant bioactive compounds in cancer treatment: myth or hope?
2022
Authors:
Dajić-Stevanović, ZoraArsenijević, Nebojša
Kolašinac, Stefan
Maksimović-Ivanić, Danijela
Mijatović, Sanja
Tanić, Nikola
Tanić, Nasta
Kanjevac, Tatjana
Contributors
Arsenijević, NebojšaDocument Type:
Conference object (Published version)
,
© 2022 by the Serbian Society for Immunology, Molecular Oncology and Regenerative Medicine
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract:
Secondary metabolites of plants are known as efficient bioactive compounds used in
prophylaxes and treatment of different disorders and diseases. Plants products have a
long history of use in the treatment of cancer. There are very interesting reports from
ethnobotanical studies, including those from the Balkan region, known for high diversity
of medicinal plants, highlighting the use of various plant drugs as anticancer
agents. More than 3000 plant species were listed as possible anticancer agents. In the last
few decades it was shown that some of plant metabolites exhibit potent and promising
therapeutic effects in cancer treatment. Surprisingly, more than 10,000 phytochemicals
have been identified and used in cancer treatment due to their anti-cancer properties.
The most researched are those belonging to alkaloids, flavonoids, lignans, condensed
tannins, terpenoids (components of essential oils), and others. Additionally, bioactive
compounds could synergistically increase the efficiency of anti-cancer drugs and reduce
their toxic effects. Many successful anti-cancer drugs currently in use, or their
analogues, are plant derived and many more are under clinical trials. This review aims
to address the most reported plants used for cancer treatment in relation to their major
bioactive compounds. Furthermore, possible mechanisms of anticancer activity of
selected plant metabolites will be discussed, including apoptotic pathways, inhibition
of Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB), modulation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, autophagy,
sensitization of multidrug resistant cancer cells, prevention of cancer cell metastasis
and epigenetic regulation. It is well assumed that high antioxidant activity and anti-inflamamtory
effects of herbal drugs are associated with the anticancer activity. In our
study, several well-known and several autochtonous medicinal plants which expressed
the anticancer potential, will be additionally presented.
Keywords:
ethnobotany; plant secondary compounds; alkaloids; essential oils; anticancer mechanismsFunding / projects:
- Project with PR China (06/2018)
In:
- Arsenijević N, editor. Abstract Book: First Serbian molecular medicine congress; 2022 Jun 16-18; Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbian Society for Immunology, Molecular Oncology and Regenerative Medicine; 2022. p. 59.