Current Insight into the Therapeutic Potential of Phytocompounds and their Nanoparticle-Based Systems for Effective Management of Lung Cancer

Abstract

: Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the primary cause of cancer-related death in both men and women worldwide. Due to diagnosis at an advanced stage, it is associated with high mortality in the majority of patients. At present, various treatment approaches are available such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. However, all these approaches usually cause serious side effects like degeneration of normal cells, bone marrow depression, alopecia, extensive vomiting, etc. To overcome the aforementioned problems, researchers have focused on the alternative therapeutic approach in which various natural compounds are reported, which possessed anti-lung cancer activity. Phytocompounds exhibit their anti-lung cancer activity via targeting various cell-signaling pathways, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and regulating antioxidant status and detoxification. Apart from the excellent anti-cancer activity, clinical administration of phytocompounds is confined because of their high lipophilicity and low bioavailability. Therefore, researchers show their concern in the development of a stable, safe, and effective approach of treatment with minimal side effects by the development of nanoparticle-based delivery of these phytocompounds to the target site. Targeted delivery of phytocompound through nanoparticles overcomes the aforementioned problems. In this article, the molecular mechanism of phytocompounds, their emerging combination therapy, and their nanoparticles-based delivery systems in the treatment of lung cancer have been discussed.

Multidrug Resistance of Cancer Cells and the Vital Role of P-Glycoprotein

“…P-gp is an active member of the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) protein subfamily, which effluxes a wide range of therapeutic drugs from cells, resulting in multidrug resistance [14]. However, it has an amazing protective effect on normal cells and the outflow of dangerous and foreign compounds [109]. As a result, P-gp efflux is a vital step to overcome for successful therapy and drug development.…”

“…P-gp expression is found in all areas of the body, functioning as a protective barrier against the entrance of poisons and xenobiotics. Its action is unavoidable in the bloodplacental barrier, blood-brain barrier, and blood-testes barrier, but when the focus is on the therapeutic aspect of the drugs, the absorption of the drugs through the intestinal lumen is slowed due to the expression of the P-gp in the intestinal lumen, although their presence is predicted all over the body; their expression is higher, however, in diseased cells, particularly cancer cells [109]. The plasma membrane of the intestinal epithelial cells pumps back drugs that enter it, are recognized as substrates, and are expelled.…”

Preparation of Liposomal Raloxifene-Graphene Nanosheet and Evaluation of Its In Vitro Anticancer Effects

“…Asbestos as a carcinogen is responsible for 3% of deaths. 4 Lung cancer possesses extremely unpredictable symptoms due to its heterogeneous nature and emerges in different areas of the lungs. Generally, lung cancer is etiologically classified into two categories, that is , non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC), in which NSCLC is the most common.…”

Recent Advancement in Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Improved Oral Bioavailability and Bioactivity of Phytochemicals: Challenges and Perspectives

“…Phytochemicals are generally not essential for the growth of plants, but they are advantageous for human health and used in the prevention and treatment of different ailments [1][2][3]. Pure phytochemicals or plant extracts of medicinal plants produce health benefits by various direct mechanisms such as scavenging free radicals, protease inhibition, metal chelation, and microtubule inhibition [4,5]. After oral administration, phytochemicals undergo the digestion process from the mouth to the intestine followed by absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) by different absorption mechanisms, eventually reaching the systemic circulation.…”

“…After oral administration, phytochemicals undergo the digestion process from the mouth to the intestine followed by absorption from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) by different absorption mechanisms, eventually reaching the systemic circulation. After that, they are metabolized, and the degraded product is excreted Polymers 2021, 13, 4036 2 of 33 via biliary/renal/pulmonary pathways [4][5][6][7]. The final concentration of phytochemicals in the systemic circulation (i.e., oral bioavailability of phytochemicals) exerts the actual in vivo bioactivity.…”