Potential Phytochemicals for Cancer Treatment: A Review

Authors

  • Sa’adatu M. Ibrahim Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Technology, Kano State, Nigeria
  • Muhammad Ali Department of Microbiology, Federal University Gusau, Gusau, Nigeria
  • Fauziyya Aminu Department of Microbiology, Kano University of Science and Technology, Wudil, Kano State, Nigeria
  • Lurwan Mu’azu Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University Gusau, Gusau, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jor.v4i1.3656

Abstract

Today, cancer had been described as one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. It has been estimated that cancer causes about 9.9 million deaths in the year 2020. The conventional treatment for the disease involves single chemotherapy or a combination of mono-chemotherapy and or a combination of mono-chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, there are negative sides to these approaches which have prompted the search for new therapeutic drugs. In view of this, scientific communities have started looking for innovative sources of anticancer compound of natural origin which include traditional plants. Nowadays, several studies have evaluated the anticancer properties of bioactive components (phytochemicals) derived from the plants both in vivo and in vitro. The phytochemicals are secondary metabolites or chemical compound produced during metabolic process in plants which are useful in the protection of plants. Most of these phytochemicals such as alkaloid, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, cyanidin, fisetin, genistein, gingerol kaempferol, quercetin, resveratrol possessed certain medicinal properties and found to have numerous applications in pharmaceutical industries for treatment of cancer. The paper was aimed to review some plants bioactive components (phytochemicals) used in cancer treatment.

Keywords:

Anticancer; Cancer; Phytochemicals; Treatment

References

[1] International Agency for Research on Cancer Global Cancer Observatory. Available online: https://gco. iarc.fr/today (accessed on 31 December 2020).

[2] Valent P, Bonnet D, De Maria R, Lapidot T, Copland M, Melo JV, Chomienne C, Ishikawa F, Schuringa JJ, Stassi G, et al. Cancer stem cell definitions and terminology: The devil is in the details. Nat. Rev. Cancer, 2012, 12, 767-775.

[3] https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2003/pr27/en/.

[4] Lichota A, Gwozdzinski K, Anticancer Activity of Natural Compounds from Plant and Marine Environment. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 3533.

[5] Babaei G, Aliarab A, Abroon S, Rasmi Y, Aziz SGG. Application of sesquiterpene lactone: A new promising way for cancer therapy based on anticancer activity. Biomed. Pharmacother. 2018, 106, 239-246.

[6] Garcia-Oliveira P, Fraga-Corral M, Pereira AG, Lourenço-Lopes C, Jimenez-Lopez C, Prieto MA, Simal-Gandara J. Scientific basis for the industrialization of traditionally used plants of the Rosaceae family. Food Chem. 2020, 330, 127197.

[7] Lopes CM, Dourado A, Oliveira R. Phytotherapy and Nutritional Supplements on Breast Cancer. Biomed Res. Int.2017, 1-42.

[8] Iqbal J, Abbasi BA, Mahmood T, Kanwal S, Ali B, Shah SA, Khalil AT. Plant-derived anticancer agents: A green anticancer approach. Asian Pac. J. Trop. Biomed. 2017, 7, 1129-1150.

[9] Mao QQ, Xu XY, Shang A, Gan RY, Wu DT, Atanasov AG, Li H, Bin Phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer: Effects and mechanisms. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 570.

[10] Redondo-Blanco S, Fernández J, Gutiérrez-del-Río I, Villar CJ, Lombó F. New insights toward colorectal cancer chemotherapy using natural bioactive compounds. Front. Pharmacol. 2017, 8, 1-22.

[11] Clardy J, Walsh C. Lessons from natural molecules. Nature 2004, 432, 829-837.

[12] Abbasia BA, Iqbala J, Ahmad R, Bibia S, Mahmooda T, Kanwalc S, Bashira S, Gula F, Hameed S. Potential phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of esophagus cancer: A green therapeutic approach Pharmacological Reports 71, 2019, 644-652 http:// dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pharep.2019.03.001.

[13] Fernald K, Kurokawa M. Evading apoptosis in cancer. Trends Cell Biol. 2013, 23, 620-633.

[14] Stewart BW, Wild CP. World Cancer Report 2014; WHO Press;World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2014; ISBN 978-92-832-0443-5.

[15] Narayanan DL, Saladi RN, Fox JL. Ultraviolet radiation and skin cancer. Int. J. Dermatol. 2010, 49, 978- 986.

[16] International Agency for Research on Cancer. Biological Agents, Volume 100B: A Review on Human Carcinogens; IARC: Lyon, France, 2012.

[17] Zhao LH, Liu X, Yan HX, Li WY, Zeng X, Yang Y, Zhao J, Liu SP, Zhuang XH, Lin C. et al. Genomic and oncogenic preference of HBV integration in hepatocellular carcinoma. Nat. Commun. 2016, 7, 1-10.

[18] Martin D, Gutkind JS. Human tumor-associated viruses and new insights into the molecular mechanisms of cancer. Oncogene 2008, 27, S31-S42.

[19] Hansen A, Henderson S, Lagos D, Nikitenko L, Coulter E, Roberts S, Gratrix F, Plaisance K, Renne R, Bower M. et al. KSHV-encoded miRNAs target MAF to induce endothelial cell reprogramming. Genes Dev. 2010, 24, 195-205.

[20] Wen S, Moss SF. Helicobacter pylori virulence factors in gastric carcinogenesis. Cancer Lett. 2009, 282, 1-8.

[21] Scanu T, Spaapen RM, Bakker JM, Pratap CB, Wu LE, Hofland I, Broeks A, Shukla VK, Kumar M, Janssen H. et al. Salmonella Manipulation of Host Signaling Pathways Provokes Cellular Transformation Associated with Gallbladder Carcinoma. Cell Host Microbe 2015, 17, 763-774.

[22] Elsland D, Neefjes J. Bacterial infections and cancer. EMBO Rep. 2018, 19, 1-11.

[23] Mesri EA, Cesarman E, Boshoff C. Kaposi’s sarcoma and its associated herpesvirus. Nat. Rev. Cancer 2010, 10, 707-719.

[24] Reuter S, Gupta SC, Chaturvedi MM, Aggarwal BB. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer: How are they linked? Free Radic. Biol. Med. 2010, 49, 1603- 1616.

[25] Moloney JN, Cotter TG. ROS signalling in the biolo-gy of cancer. Semin. Cell Dev. Biol. 2018, 80, 50-64.

[26] Crusz SM, Balkwill FR. Inflammation and cancer: Advances and new agents. Nat. Rev. Clin. Oncol. 2015, 12, 584-596.

[27] Masferrer JL, Leahy KM, Koki AT, Zweifel BS, Settle SL, Woerner BM, Edwards DA, Flickinger AG, Moore R.J, Seibert K. Antiangiogenic and antitumor activities of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors. Cancer Res. 2000, 60, 1306-1311.

[28] Qu X, Tang Y, Hua S. Immunological approaches towards cancer and inflammation: A cross talk. Front. Immunol. 2018, 9.

[29] Shen H, Tao S, Liu J, Huang Y, Chen H, Li W, Zhang Y, Chen Y, Su S, Lin N. et al. Global lung cancer risk from PAH exposure highly depends on emission sources and individual susceptibility. Sci. Rep. 2014, 4, 1-8.

[30] Bansal V, Kim KH. Review of PAH contamination in food products and their health hazards. Environ. Int. 2015, 84, 26-38.

[31] Sugimura T, Wakabayashi K, Nakagama H, Nagao M. Heterocyclic amines: Mutagens/carcinogens produced during cooking of meat and fish. Gann Monogr. Cancer Res. 2004, 52, 71-96.

[32] Puangsombat K, Gadgil P, Houser TA, Hunt MC, Smith JS. Occurrence of heterocyclic amines in cooked meat products. Meat Sci. 2012, 90, 739-746.

[33] WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2011: Warning About the Dangers of Tobacco, 3rd ed.; World Health Organization: Geneva, Switzerland, 2011.

[34] Song P, Wu L, Guan W. Dietary nitrates, nitrites, and nitrosamines intake and the risk of gastric cancer: A meta-analysis. Nutrients 2015, 7, 9872.

[35] Praud D, Rota M, Rehm J, Shield K, Zato´ nski W, Hashibe M, La Vecchia C, Boffetta P. Cancer incidence and mortality attributable to alcohol consumption. Int. J. Cancer 2016, 138, 1380-1387.

[36] Watson AA, Fleet GWJ, Asano N, Molyneux RJ, Nash RJ. Polyhydroxylated alkaloids-natural occurrence and therapeutic applications. Phytochemistry 2001, 56:265-295.

[37] Ning G, Tianhua L, Xin Y, He P. Constituents in Desmodium blandum and their antitumor activity. Chin Trad Herb Drug 2009, 40:852-856.

[38] Sala A, Recio MD, Giner RM, Manez S, Tournier H, Schinella G, Rios JL Antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties of Helichrysum italicum. J Pharm Pharmacol 2002, 54:365-371.

[39] Wong TS, Roccatano D, Zacharias M, Schwaneberg U. A statistical analysis of random mutagenesis methods used for directed protein evolution. J Mol Biol 2006, 355:858-871.

[40] Kim JM, Kim JS, Yoo H, Choung MG, Sung MK Effects of black soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed coats and its anthocyanidins on colonic inflammation and cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. J Agric Food Chem, 2008, 56:8427-8433.

[41] Lim TG, Kwon JY, Kim J, Song NR, Lee KM, Heo YS, Lee HJ, Lee KW. Cyanidin-3-glucoside suppresses B[a]PDE-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression by directly inhibiting Fyn kinase activity. Biochem Pharmacol 2011, 82:167-174.

[42] Xu M, Bower KA, Wang S, Frank JA, Chen G, Ding M, Wang S, Shi X, Ke Z, Luo J. Cyanidin-3-glucoside inhibits ethanol-induced invasion of breast cancer cells overexpressing ErbB2. Mol Cancer 2011, 9:285. https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-4598-9-285.

[43] Zikri NN, Ried KM, Wang LS, Lechner J, Schwartz SJ, Stoner GD. Black raspberry components inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis, and modulate gene expression in rat esophageal epithelial cells. Nutr Cancer 2009, 61:816-826.

[44] Kim JE, Kwon JY, Seo SK, Son JE, Jung SK, Min SY, Hwang MK, Heo YS, Lee KW, Lee HJ. Cyanidin suppresses ultraviolet B-induced COX-2 expression in epidermal cells by targeting MKK4, MEK1, and Raf-1. Biochem Pharmacol 2010, 79:1473-1482.

[45] Kim YS, Milner JA. Targets for indole-3-carbinol in cancer prevention. J Nutr Biochem 2005, 16:65-73.

[46] Acharya A, Das I, Singh S, Saha T. Chemopreventive properties of indole-3-carbinol, diindolylmethane and other constituents of cardamom against carcinogenesis. Recent Pat Food Nutr Agric 2010, 2:166-177.

[47] Maher P, Dargusch R, Ehren JL, Okada S, Sharma K, Schubert D. Fisetin lowers methylglyoxal dependent protein glycation and limits the complications of diabetes. PLoS One 2011, 6:e21226. https://doi. org/10.1371/journal.pone.0021226.

[48] Wood JG, Rogina B, Lavu S, Howitz K, Helfand SL, Tatar M, Sinclair D. Sirtuin activators mimic caloric restriction and delay ageing in metazoans. Nature 2004, 430:686-689.

[49] Geraets L, Haegens A, Brauers K, Haydock JA, Vernooy JH, Wouters EF, Bast A, Hageman GJ. Inhibition of LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation by specific flavonoids. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2009, 382:598-603.

[50] Khan N, Afaq F, Khusro FH, Adhami VM, Suh Y, Mukhtar H. Dual inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in human non small cell lung cancer cells by a dietary flavonoid fisetin. Int J Cancer 2012, 130:1695-1705.

[51] Lopez-Lazaro M, Willmore E, Austin CA. Cells lacking DNA topoisomerase II beta are resistant to genistein. J Nat Prod 2007, 70:763-767.

[52] Wang W, Bringe NA, Berhow MA, Gonzalez de Mejia E. Beta-conglycinins among sources of bioactives in hydrolysates of different soybean varieties that inhibit leukemia cells in vitro. J Agric Food Chem 2008, 56:4012-4020.

[53] Jeong CH, Bode AM, Pugliese A, Cho YY, Kim HG, Shim JH, Jeon YJ, Li H, Jiang H, Dong Z. [6]-Gingerol suppresses colon cancer growth by targeting leukotriene A4 hydrolase. Cancer Res 2009, 69:5584- 5591.

[54] Lee HS, Seo EY, Kang NE, Kim WK. [6]-Gingerol inhibits metastasis of MDA MB-231 human breast cancer cells. J Nutr Biochem 2008, 19:313-319.

[55] Park YJ, Wen J, Bang S, Park SW, Song SY. [6]-Gingerol induces cell cycle arrest and cell death of mutant p53-expressing pancreatic cancer cells. Yonsei Med J 2006, 47:688-697.

[56] Oyagbemi AA, Saba AB, Azeez OI. Molecular targets of [6]-gingerol: its potential roles in cancer chemoprevention. Biofactors 2010, 36:169-178.

[57] Nothlings U, Murphy SP, Wilkens LR, Henderson BE, Kolonel LN. Flavonols and pancreatic cancer risk: the multiethnic cohort study. Am J Epidemiol 2007, 166:924-931.

[58] Cui Y, Morgenstern H, Greenland S, Tashkin DP, Mao JT, Cai L, Cozen W, Mack TM, Lu QY, Zhang ZF. Dietary flavonoid intake and lung cancer-a population-based case-control study. Cancer 2008, 112:2241-2248.

[59] Gacche RN, Shegokar HD, Gond DS, Yang Z, Jadhav AD. Evaluation of selected flavonoids as antiangiogenic, anticancer, and radical scavenging agents: an experimental and in silico analysis. Cell Biochem Biophys 2011, 61:651-663.

[60] Giovannucci E, Ascherio A, Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, Willett WC. Intake of carotenoids and retinol in relation to risk of prostate cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst 1995, 87:1767-1776.

[61] Nahum A, Hirsch K, Danilenko M, Watts CK, Prall OW, Levy J, Sharoni Y. Lycopene inhibition of cell cycle progression in breast and endometrial cancer cells is associated with reduction in cyclin D levels and retention of p27(Kip1) in the cyclin E-cdk2 complexes. Oncogene 2001, 20:3428-3436.

[62] Dihal AA, De Boer VCJ, Van Der Woude H, Tilburgs C, Bruijntjes JP, Alink GM, Rietjens I, Woutersen RA, Stierum R.H. Quercetin, but not its glycosidated conjugate rutin, inhibits azoxymethane-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in F344 rats. J. Nutr. 2006, 136, 2862-2867.

[63] Tang SM, Deng XT, Zhou J, Li QP, Ge XX, Miao L. Pharmacological basis and new insights of quercetin action in respect to its anti-cancer effects. Biomed. Pharmacother. 2020, 121, 109604.

[64] Albrecht C, Cittadini MC, Soria EA. Pharmacological Activity of Quercetin and 5 caffeoylquinic Acid Oral Intake in Male Balb/c Mice with Lung Adenocarcinoma. Arch. Med. Res. 2020, 51, 8-12.

[65] Shitole AA, Sharma N, Giram P, Khandwekar A, Baruah M, Garnaik B, Koratkar S. LHRH-conjugated, PEGylated, poly-lactide-co-glycolide nanocapsules for targeted delivery of combinational chemotherapeutic drugs Docetaxel and Quercetin for prostate cancer. Mater. Sci. Eng. C 2020, 114, 111035.

[66] Ekström AM, Serafini M, Nyrén O, Wolk A, Bosetti C, Bellocco R. Dietary quercetin intake and risk of gastric cancer: Results from a population-based study in Sweden. Ann. Oncol. 2011, 22, 438-443.

[67] Kooshyar MM, Mozafari PM, Amirchaghmaghi M, Pakfetrat A, Karoos P, Mohasel MR, Orafai H, Azarian AA. A randomized placebo- controlled double blind clinical trial of quercetin in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis. J. Clin. Diagnostic Res. 2017, 11, ZC46-ZC50.

[68] Malaguarnera L. Influence of resveratrol on the immune response. Nutrients 2019, 11, 946.

[69] Czop M, Bogucka-Kocka A, Kubrak T, Knap-Czop K, Makuch-Kocka A, Galkowski D, Wawer J, Kocki T, Kocki J. Imaging flow cytometric analysis of stilbene-dependent apoptosis in drug resistant human leukemic cell lines. Molecules 2019, 24, 1896.

[70] Ganapathy S, Chen Q, Singh KP, Shankar S, Srivastava RK. Resveratrol enhances antitumor activity of TRAIL in prostate cancer xenografts through activation of FOXO transcription factor. PLoS ONE 2010, 5, 15627.

[71] Rai G, Mishra S, Suman S, Shukla Y. Resveratrol improves the anticancer effects of doxorubicin in vitro and in vivo models: A mechanistic insight. Phytomedicine 2016, 23, 233-242.

Downloads

How to Cite

Ibrahim, S. M., Ali, M., Aminu, F., & Mu’azu, L. (2022). Potential Phytochemicals for Cancer Treatment: A Review. Journal of Oncology Research, 4(1), 9–15. https://doi.org/10.30564/jor.v4i1.3656

Issue

Vol. 4 , Iss. 1 (January 2022)

Article Type

Reviews

License

Copyright and Licensing

The authors shall retain the copyright of their work but allow the Publisher to publish, copy, distribute, and convey the work.

Journal of Oncology Research publishes accepted manuscripts under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). Authors who submit their papers for publication by Journal of Oncology Research agree to have the CC BY-NC 4.0 license applied to their work, and that anyone is allowed to reuse the article or part of it free of charge for non-commercial use. As long as you follow the license terms and original source is properly cited, anyone may copy, redistribute the material in any medium or format, remix, transform, and build upon the material.

License Policy for Reuse of Third-Party Materials

If a manuscript submitted to the journal contains the materials which are held in copyright by a third-party, authors are responsible for obtaining permissions from the copyright holder to reuse or republish any previously published figures, illustrations, charts, tables, photographs, and text excerpts, etc. When submitting a manuscript, official written proof of permission must be provided and clearly stated in the cover letter.
The editorial office of the journal has the right to reject/retract articles that reuse third-party materials without permission.

Journal Policies on Data Sharing

We encourage authors to share articles published in our journal to other data platforms, but only if it is noted that it has been published in this journal.