Molecular Targets of Naturopathy in Cancer Research: Bridge to Modern Medicine

Abstract

The relevance of naturopathy (defined as the practice of medicine for the treatment of human diseases with natural agents) in human cancer is beginning to be appreciated, as documented by renewed interest in nutraceutical research, the natural anticancer agents of dietary origin. Because of their pleiotropic effects and the ability to modulate multiple signaling pathways, which is a good attribute of natural agents, nutraceuticals have frequently been demonstrated to re-sensitize drug-resistant cancers. The effectiveness of nutraceuticals can be further enhanced if the tools for the relative assessment of their molecular targets are readily available. Such information can be critical for determining their most effective uses. Here, we discuss the anticancer potential of nutraceuticals and the associated challenges that have interfered with their translational potential as a naturopathic approach for the management of cancers. In the years to come, an efficient screening and assessment of molecular targets will be the key to make rapid progress in the area of drug design and discovery, especially focusing on evidence-based development of naturopathy for the treatment of human malignancies.

Thiosemicarbazone modification of 3-acetyl coumarin inhibits Aβ peptide aggregation and protect against Aβ-induced cytotoxicity

“…26 Thiosemicarbazone compounds are well known metal chelator and their biological derivatives are correlated to their ability to control redox properties of metal ions. 27 Thiosemicarbazone chelates metal ion as bidentate N,S-donor ligands while can function as tridentate species if third donor site is present in the remaining part of the ligating system. 28 Interestingly copper-bis(thiosemicarbazonato) complexes have shown to reduce levels of Aβ peptide by up-regulation of Aβ peptide degrading metalloproteases.…”

Honey and its Phytochemicals: Plausible Agents in Combating Colon Cancer through its Diversified Actions

“…Nowadays, people are more attracted toward naturopathy than the scientific medicines due to the very few side effects from the consumption of natural diet. Some of these natural compounds help in curing as well as prevention of cancer (Ahmad et al 2015).…”

Neuroinflammation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer?s Disease: Modulation by Coriolus Versicolor (Yun-Zhi) Nutritional Mushroom

“…Studies both in vitro and in vivo reveal that consumption of nutraceuticals, especially the ones with high antioxidant capacity, has an inverse relationship with cardiovascular diseases, various cancers, and diabetes. On the basis of free radical theory of ageing it is postulated that any substance with a great antioxidant capacity can be a potential candidate for delaying the aging, but more evidences, show that these substances could improve mitochondrial functions also through activation of different signaling pathways 41,42 . There has been a recent upsurge of interest in complementary and alternative medicine especially dietary supplements and functional foods in delaying the onset of age associated neurodegenerative disease.…”