Natural Products as Anticancer Agents: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Natural products have been an invaluable and useful source of anticancer agents over the years. Several compounds have been synthesized from natural products by modifying their structures or by using naturally occurring compounds as building blocks in the synthesis of these compounds for various purposes in different fields, such as biology, medicine, and engineering. Multiple modern and costly treatments have been applied to combat cancer and limit its lethality, but the results are not significantly refreshing. Natural products, which are a significant source of new therapeutic drugs, are currently being investigated as potential cytotoxic agents and have shown a positive trend in preclinical research and have prompted numerous innovative strategies in order to combat cancer and expedite the clinical research. Natural products are becoming increasingly important for drug discovery due to their high molecular diversity and novel biofunctionality. Furthermore, natural products can provide superior efficacy and safety due to their unique molecular properties. The objective of the current review is to provide an overview of the emergence of natural products for the treatment and prevention of cancer, such as chemosensitizers, immunotherapeutics, combinatorial therapies with other anticancer drugs, novel formulations of natural products, and the molecular mechanisms underlying their anticancer properties.

Study of Hydroxypropyl β-Cyclodextrin and Puerarin Inclusion Complexes Encapsulated in Sodium Alginate-Grafted 2-Acrylamido-2-Methyl-1-Propane Sulfonic Acid Hydrogels for Oral Controlled Drug Delivery

“…Flavonoids have played an important role in the treatment of many diseases since ancient times. Several flavonoids have been shown to have the functions of scavenging free radicals, improving antioxidant activity, displaying anti-inflammatory properties, possessing antitumor properties, possessing antithrombogenic properties, as well as possessing antibacterial properties [ 2 , 3 ].…”

Therapeutic Targeting of Regulated Signaling Pathways of Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

“…These genes are regulated in the lungs of KRAS transgenic mice. Hence, these signaling molecules regulate cell survival and proliferation by regulating multiple gene expression. ,, …”

Soy Isoflavones Induce Cell Death by Copper-Mediated Mechanism: Understanding Its Anticancer Properties

“…Two major isoflavones found in a variety of soybeans and soy-based products are genistein and daidzein [ 9 , 10 , 11 ]. Both of these isoflavones have been found to exhibit anticancer properties in both in vitro and in vivo cancer models [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ]. Despite the fact that these polyphenolic compounds have been shown to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines, the mechanism of anticancer action, which must operate as an upstream signal, is unknown.…”