An Update on Phytochemicals in Redox Homeostasis: “Virtuous or Evil” in Cancer Chemoprevention?

Abstract

Redox homeostasis, a dynamic process ensuring a balance between cellular oxidizing and reducing reactions, is crucial for maintaining healthy cellular physiology and regulating many biological processes, requiring continuous monitoring and fine-tuning. Reactive species play a critical role in intra/intercellular signaling, and each cell has a specific system guarding cellular redox homeostasis. ROS signaling and oxidative stress are involved in cancer initiation and progression. However, the generation of reactive species beyond the threshold level inside the tumor microenvironment is considered one of the therapeutic approaches. Various studies have shown that some phytochemicals can target the redox homeostasis of the tumor microenvironment. Recent advances have focused on developing and introducing phytochemical interventions as favorable therapeutic options against cancer. However, studies have also suggested the “virtuous” and “evil” impacts of phytochemicals. Some phytochemicals enhance therapeutic efficacy by promoting intracellular oxidant accumulation. However, under certain conditions, some phytochemicals may harm the cellular microenvironment to promote cancer and tend to target different pathways for cancer initiation and development instead of targeting redox homeostasis. In this context, this review is focused on providing an overall understanding of redox homeostasis and intends to highlight the potential positive and negative impacts of phytochemicals in redox homeostasis and disease development. We also discuss the recent nanotechnology-based advancements in combating cancer development.

Unveiling the therapeutic promise of natural products in alleviating drug‐induced liver injury: Present advancements and future prospects

“…While natural products have shown potential as hepatoprotective agents against DILI, there is a need for more research to determine their effectiveness and safety in protecting against DILI or any other liver disease. A limitation to using natural products is that they may not always be subjected to the same regulatory standards as pharmaceutical drugs, which means their purity, potency, and safety are not always guaranteed (Fatma et al, 2023; Teschke & Eickhoff, 2015). Another challenge is that the safety and efficacy can be affected by several factors such as type of products, dosage, duration of use, and individual characteristics, including age, gender, and underlying medical conditions.…”

Combining Copper and Zinc into a Biosensor for Anti-Chemoresistance and Achieving Osteosarcoma Therapeutic Efficacy

“…For instance, complexes of zinc penta-coordinated with binuclear ligands are more active than complexes of zinc hexa-coordinated with mononuclear ligands [ 203 ]. This is due to ROS overproduction triggering DNA damage, resulting in good DNA accumulation and cellular uptake via intrinsic pathway-dependent apoptosis [ 204 ]. Thus, the unbound CuZn ions or free radicals eventually interfere with the cell cycle at different levels, resulting in cell disorders, necrosis, and apoptosis [ 204 ].…”

“…This is due to ROS overproduction triggering DNA damage, resulting in good DNA accumulation and cellular uptake via intrinsic pathway-dependent apoptosis [ 204 ]. Thus, the unbound CuZn ions or free radicals eventually interfere with the cell cycle at different levels, resulting in cell disorders, necrosis, and apoptosis [ 204 ].…”

“…However, SOD1 was found to respond differently to two proteins, tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein (YWHA)-zeta and YWHA-epsilon, depending on its redox status in terms of structural dependences, protein degradation, and metabolic implications, [ 219 ]. This is a new, unorthodox role of SOD1 as a major redox enzyme in scavenging superoxide radicals (O 2 − ) that creates different perspectives of insight diagnosis to map protein binding domains in co-crystalline structures [ 42 , 204 ]. Further research should be conducted to characterise molecular mechanisms and their metabolic relevance in physiological conditions [ 30 ].…”

Analysing potent biomarkers along phytochemicals for breast cancer therapy: an in silico approach

“…Finding novel anti-cancer medications that are less toxic and have better therapeutic effects are now crucial. There has been a huge shift away from chemically derived pharmaceuticals and towards substances based on natural products, and many scientific works have begun to investigate the anti-cancer potential of phytochemicals [16]. By altering signalling pathways, the phytochemicals obtained from a variety of medicinal plants can stop tumour growth, aggressiveness, and motility of cancerous cells [17][18][19][20][21][22][23].…”