zerumbone and Neoplasms

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) are the common cancer treatments. In addition to these limitations, the development of adverse effects from chemotherapy and RT reduces the quality of life for cancer patients. Cellular radiosensitivity, or the ability to resist and overcome cell damage caused by ionizing radiation (IR), is directly related to cancer cells' response to RT. Therefore, radiobiological research is emphasizing chemical compounds 'radiosensitization of cancer cells so that they are more reactive in the IR spectrum. Recent years researchers have seen an increase in interest in natural products that have antitumor effects with minimal side effects. Natural products, on the other hand, are easy to recover and therefore less expensive. There have been several scientific studies done based on these compounds that have tested their ability in vitro and in vivo to induce tumor radiosensitization. The role of natural products in RT, as well as their usefulness and potential applications, is the goal of this current review.

Topics: Berberine; Biological Products; Curcumin; Emodin; Genistein; Humans; Neoplasms; Pentacyclic Triterpenes; Radiation-Protective Agents; Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; Radiotherapy; Resveratrol; Sesquiterpenes; Triterpenes; Ursolic Acid; Vitamin D; Withanolides

Curcumin (CU), an edible natural pigment from Curcuma Longa, has demonstrated extensive anti-tumor effect in vivo and in vitro. With the property of reversing drug resistance and low toxicity, CU has been considered to develop a new adjuvant chemotherapy protocol of cancer. However, the poor stability, solubility, in vivo bioavailability and weak activity of CU greatly limit its clinical application. Therefore, CU analogues have been extensively studied. Starting from the study of natural CU analogues, multiple approaches are being sought to obtain more stable, soluble and effective analogues of CU. This review focuses on the progress of these approaches to more potent CU analogues.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Cell Proliferation; Curcumin; Humans; Neoplasms

Zerumbone (ZER) is a naturally occurring dietary compound, present in many natural foods consumed today. The compound derived from several plant species of the Zingiberaceae family that has been found to possess multiple biomedical properties, such as antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. However, evidence of efficacy is sparse, pointing to the need for a more systematic review for assessing scientific evidence to support therapeutic claims made for ZER and to identify future research needs. This review provides an updated overview of in vitro and in vivo investigations of ZER, its cancer chemopreventive properties, and mechanisms of action. Therapeutic effects of ZER were found to be scientifically plausible and could be explained partially by in vivo and in vitro pharmacological activities. Much of the research outlined in this paper will serve as a foundation to explain ZER anticancer bioactivity, which will open the door for the development of strategies in the treatment of malignancies using ZER.

Topics: Antioxidants; Apoptosis; Cell Proliferation; Chemoprevention; Diet; Humans; Neoplasms; Sesquiterpenes; Zingiberaceae

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Drug Discovery; Hedgehog Proteins; Humans; Neoplasms; Signal Transduction; Transcription Factors; Zinc Finger Protein GLI1

In the present study, we explored the suppressive activities of 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA), auraptene, nobiletin, and zerumbone toward LPS-induced cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA expression in mouse macrophages and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Pretreatment of RAW264.7 cells with LPS led to the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)s [p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK)1/2] and Akt, together with degradation of the inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB (IkappaB)-alpha protein and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB p65, and the resultant activation of activator protein (AP)-1, NF-kappaB, and cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (CREB) transcription factors. ACA abrogated ERK1/2 and JNK1/2, but not p38 MAPK, as well as the activation of those transcription factors. Although it allowed LPS-triggered phosphorylation of those MAPKs and NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, nobiletin suppressed the activation of AP-1, NF-kappaB, and CREB. Zerumbone had no effect on those transcription factors, though it attenuated COX-2 mRNA expression, suggesting that it disrupts the stabilization of COX-2 mRNA. Conversely, zerumbone significantly accelerated spontaneous COX-2 mRNA decay, the potency of which was comparable with that of SB203580, an inhibitor of p38 MAPK, whose activation has key roles in the proinflammatory mRNA stabilization processes. Because SB203580 but not zerumbone suppressed LPS-induced p38 MAPK activation, the molecular targets of zerumbone may be MAPK-activated protein kinase-2 or located downstream. However, auraptene suppressed the expression of COX-2 protein but not mRNA, implying that it targets translation. We propose that these phytochemicals are promising chemopreventive agents for inflammation-associated carcinogenesis. Their use in combination may enhance their efficacy because of their different modes of action.

Topics: Animals; Benzyl Alcohols; Coumarins; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; Flavones; Lipopolysaccharides; Macrophages; Mice; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Neoplasms; RNA, Messenger; Sesquiterpenes; Terpenes