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Traditional medicines and their active ingredients and some natural products and derived analogs have been used for treating multiple diseases including cancer. Among these compounds cytotoxic agents such as bleomycin, paclitaxel and vincristine block essential pathways and genes required for cancer cell growth and these agents have diverse clinical applications. Dietary phenolics including flavonoids and related compounds are associated with multiple health benefits however most individual dietary compounds and other natural products that show promising anticancer activity in preclinical studies exhibit minimal clinical effectiveness and this is particularly true for cancer. Many of the compounds perform poorly in clinical trials due to pharmacokinetic consideration and limited uptake (e.g., curcumin) and these are issues that can be addressed. The clinical effectiveness of flavonoids and many other natural product-derived anticancer compounds can also be enhanced by a more targeted approach. This would include identifying a significant response/gene or target in a specific cancer and then identifying the optimal compound. In this review, I have discussed a limited number of targets including non-oncogene addiction genes such as Sp transcription factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS) or the orphan nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A) sub-family. Thus, the most active compound for these responses could be used only for treating patients that are ROS-inducible or highly express targets such as Sp1 or NR4A sub-family members. A mechanism-based precision medicine approach should enhance the clinical efficacy of dietary and related natural products as anticancer agents and decrease toxic side effects for some combination therapies.
Traditional medicines and their active ingredients and some natural products and derived analogs have been used for treating multiple diseases including cancer. Among these compounds cytotoxic agents such as bleomycin, paclitaxel and vincristine block essential pathways and genes required for cancer cell growth and these agents have diverse clinical applications. Dietary phenolics including flavonoids and related compounds are associated with multiple health benefits however most individual dietary compounds and other natural products that show promising anticancer activity in preclinical studies exhibit minimal clinical effectiveness and this is particularly true for cancer. Many of the compounds perform poorly in clinical trials due to pharmacokinetic consideration and limited uptake (e.g., curcumin) and these are issues that can be addressed. The clinical effectiveness of flavonoids and many other natural product-derived anticancer compounds can also be enhanced by a more targeted approach. This would include identifying a significant response/gene or target in a specific cancer and then identifying the optimal compound. In this review, I have discussed a limited number of targets including non-oncogene addiction genes such as Sp transcription factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS) or the orphan nuclear receptor 4A (NR4A) sub-family. Thus, the most active compound for these responses could be used only for treating patients that are ROS-inducible or highly express targets such as Sp1 or NR4A sub-family members. A mechanism-based precision medicine approach should enhance the clinical efficacy of dietary and related natural products as anticancer agents and decrease toxic side effects for some combination therapies.
The discipline of utilizing food as a medicinal agent has gained significant attention in recent years. This narrative review aims to conduct a multidimensional exploration of the inherent therapeutic properties of food. It utilizes a comprehensive methodology encompassing historical texts, contemporary scientific literature, and clinical investigations to explore the dynamic field of food as therapy. Commencing with a historical backdrop, this text traces the historical lineage of the medicinal utilization of food. It then proceeds to explore the complex interplay between nutrition, bioactive compounds, and their combined influence on human health. The unfolding narrative highlights the significant impact of dietary patterns on the prevention and management of chronic ailments, offering valuable insights into their therapeutic potential. In this narrative review, the discipline of culinary medicine is emerging as a valuable connection between the field of nutritional science and the practical realm of dietary applications. The investigation of challenges associated with integrating food-based therapeutic modalities is thoroughly analyzed, leading to a comprehensive discussion on potential avenues for future research. Based on a rigorous methodology, this narrative review makes a valuable contribution to the growing body of knowledge on the medicinal properties of food. It provides a comprehensive and insightful perspective on this emerging field, which has the potential to impact current paradigms significantly.
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