Experimental evidence for use of Acorus calamus (asarone) for cancer chemoprevention

Abstract

Cancer is one of the major non-communicable diseases posing substantial challenges in both developing and developed countries. The options available for treatment of different cancer are associated with various limitations, including severe toxicity, drug resistance, poor outcomes and a high risk of relapse. Hence, an increased attention and necessity for screening of various phytochemicals from natural sources for superior and safer alternative has been ongoing for several decades. In recent years, phytochemicals like galantamine, erwinaze, rivastigmine, resveratrol from natural sources have been found to be important therapeutic targets for the treatment of various diseases including cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and cardiovascular effects. Acorus calamus (Sweet flag), and/or its bioactive phytochemical alpha (α)-and beta (β)-asarone, is a well-known drug in the traditional system of medicine which possesses anti-tumor and chemo-preventive activities as evident from numerous pre-clinical studies both in-vitro and in-vivo . In this article, we critically review the current available scientific evidences of A. calamus and/or asarone for cancer chemoprevention based on preclinical in-vitro and in-vivo models. In addition, we also have compiled and discussed the molecular targets of mechanism(s) involved in the anti-cancer activity of A. calamus /asarone. Still, extensive in-vivo studies are necessary using various animal models to understand the molecular mechanism behind the pharmacological activity of the bioactive phytochemicals derived from A. calamus . It is strongly believed that the comprehensive evidence presented in this article could deliver a possible source for researchers to conduct future studies pertaining to A. calamus and/or its bioactive phytochemicals asarone for cancer chemoprevention.

Metformin and asarone inhibit HepG2 cell proliferation in a high glucose environment by regulating AMPK and Akt signaling pathway

“…There is a body of evidence suggesting that metformin reduces tumor growth directly through the inhibition of energy metabolism and by regulation of both AMPKdependent and independent signaling pathways [17][18][19][20]. On the other hand, alpha (α)-and beta (β)-asarone, the two major active constituents in volatile oils of Acorus calamus, showed anti-cancer effects in various cancer cell lines [21,22]. Our previous study showed that asarone treatment attenuated the progression of HCC in diabetic conditions in a similar manner to that achieved by metformin [23].…”

Saraswati Panchak – A Novel Herbal Combination for Mental Health

“…The oil contains varying concentrations of αasarone, β-asarone, γ-asarone, calamenenolcalamene, calameone, camphene, α-pinene, β-pinene, p-cymene, eugenyl acetate, eugenol, isoeugenol, methyl isoeugenol, azulene, calamol, eugenol methyl ether, dipentene, methyl eugenol, asaronaldehyde, terpinolene, camphor, 1,8-cineole, αcaryophyllene and hydrocarbons (24)(25)(26). The oil also contains fatty acids such as palmitic acid and its ester, heptylic acid, an ester of butyric acid (27).…”

Alzheimer’s Disease and Herbal Combination Therapy: A Comprehensive Review

“…Among these, alpha-asarone and beta-asarone were the two main compounds isolated [ 52 ]. Various studies have reported A. calamus to be comprising of anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, insecticidal, and pesticidal properties [ 53 ]. α -asarone and β-asrone are the major phytocomponent found in leaves, very well known for their memory enhancement, behavioral modifications, learning performance, and antioxidant potentials [ 54 ].…”