An Overview on the Anticancer Activity of Azadirachta indica (Neem) in Gynecological Cancers

Abstract

In recent years, a wide range of studies have pointed out the importance of nutraceuticals as reservoirs of therapeutic compounds for several diseases, including cancer. This study is centered on the role of some nutraceuticals as anticancer agents and on their efficiency in the oncological gynecological field. Gynecological cancers include cervical, ovarian, and breast neoplasia and these are the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the female population. Cervical neoplasia affects sexually active women aged between 30 and 40 years and is considered the second leading cause of death for women worldwide. Epidemiological studies have shown a strong association of this cancer with human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, independent of any others risk factors. Ovarian cancer represents about 4% of all women’s cancers and breast neoplasia registers 52.8 new cases per 100,000 women annually. Since ancient times, herbal therapies have shown a wide range of beneficial effects and a high potential for safeguarding human health. Azadirachta indica (Neem) is a medicinal plant of Indian origin, a tree with more of 140 isolated compounds and at least 35 biologically active principles that have shown an important influence as tumor suppressors by interfering with the carcinogenesis process. Used for centuries in Asia as a natural remedy for cancer, neem compounds present in bark, leaves, flowers, and seed oil have been shown to possess properties such as chemopreventive capacity, apoptotic activities, immunomodulatory effects, and induction of p53-independent apoptosis. The current study is a systematic literature review based on the anticarcinogenic potential of neem compounds in gynecological cancers.

Biological Activities of Gedunin—A Limonoid from the Meliaceae Family

“…Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women of reproductive age [49]. The antiproliferative activity of gedunin against MCF-7 and SkBr3 breast cancer cells lines is reported by Brandt et al [24].…”

“…Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of death among women [49]. The first approach to the effect of gedunin on ovarian cell line was performed by Kamath et al [28].…”

“…Natural products from plants of Meliaceae family, especially from A. indica, have been safely consumed for several years [49]. However, it is important to know if this safety is extended to one of the pure compounds that can be extracted from those plants, gedunin.…”

L’azadirachtine, un pesticide naturel aux effets multiples

“…Les effets anticancéreux des composés issus d'A. indica ont été démontrés dans les cancers gynécologiques [11,16], mais aussi dans les cancers gastrointestinaux, du sein, de la prostate, de la peau et du sang [11]. L'azadirachtine est considérée comme non-toxique pour les hommes et les vertébrés à sang chaud [6] et sans génotoxicité pour les mammifères [19].…”

“…Azadirachta indica, réputé dans la médecine traditionnelle en Asie et en Afrique, est utilisé pour traiter de multiples affections ( Figure 2) : les allergies (comme antihistaminique), l'asthme, les céphalées, les infections microbiennes et virales, le paludisme, les calculs rénaux, le diabète, mais aussi les maladies cardiovasculaires (hypertension, athérosclérose), gastriques (ulcères) et dermatologiques (plaies septiques, furoncles, démangeaisons dues à la varicelle, gale, leishmaniose). Azadirachta indica présente aussi des propriétés fongicides, antiparasitaires (helminthes), antipyrétiques, anti-inflammatoires immunostimulantes, immunomodulatrices, neuroprotectrices (dans la maladie de Parkinson), contraceptives et anticancéreuses [8][9][10][11][13][14][15][16][17]. Le potentiel fongicide du margousier semble lié à la présence d'azadirachtine et de nimbine [8] ; son effet anticarcinogène reposerait sur l'azadirachtine et le nimbolide [9].…”