La fitoterapia como fuente de medicamentos reguladores del metabolismo tumoral y activadores de la respuesta inmunitaria

Abstract

Artículo de posesión para el ingreso como miembro correspondiente a la Academia Colombiana de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales el 1 de junio de 2017 ResumenEl término cáncer integra un grupo de enfermedades complejas que responden a múltiples factores y se manifiestan de forma diferente según el órgano afectado o el mecanismo molecular implicado. En términos generales, se presenta una alteración en los mecanismos que regulan el crecimiento de las células, lo cual genera proliferaciones incontroladas que rompen la homeóstasis normal del organismo y afectando no solo el órgano blanco sino a todo el organismo. La búsqueda de terapias contra el cáncer se basa en el conocimiento de estos mecanismos moleculares y sus innumerables consecuencias. En esta revisión se recogen los estudios realizados y publicados por nuestro grupo de investigación en los últimos 13 años en torno a Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kuntze y Petiveria alliacea Linne (Phytolaccaceae), así como algunos datos aún no publicados. La revisión se centra en los mecanismos relacionados con el metabolismo energético tumoral y la regulación de la respuesta inmunitaria, así como en los últimos procedimientos requeridos para llevar a cabo el primer ensayo clínico de fase I para un medicamento contra el cáncer en Colombia. © 2018. Acad. Colomb. Cienc. Ex. Fis. Nat. Palabras clave:Cáncer; Fitomedicamentos; Metabolismo tumoral; Respuesta inmune antitumoral; Anamú; Dividivi. Phytotherapy as a source of medicaments that regulate tumoral metabolism and activate the immune response AbstractCancer is the name for a group of complex and multifactorial diseases that manifest differently depending on the organ affected or the molecular mechanism involved. In general terms, there is an alteration in the mechanisms that regulate cell growth, generating their uncontrolled proliferation, which breaks the normal homeostasis of the organism, affecting not only the target organ, but the individual in general. The search for therapies against cancer is based on the knowledge of these molecular mechanisms and their countless consequences. In the present review, we include the work done and published in our research group during the past 13 years on Caesalpinia spinosa (Molina) Kuntze and Petiveria alliacea Linne (Phytolaccaceae), as well as some data not yet published. The review focuses on the mechanisms related to tumor energy metabolism and the regulation of the immune response, as well as the latest procedures that will allow us to conduct the first phase I clinical trial for a cancer drug in Colombia.

Plant-derived extracts and metabolic modulation in leukemia: a promising approach to overcome treatment resistance

“…alliacea is a plant used in Central and South America as traditional medicine due to its antispasmodic, antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activities. Regarding its activity on metabolism, traditional knowledge attributes hypoglycemic properties to it (Fiorentino and Urueña, 2018). We have found cytotoxic activity in tumor cell lines of murine and human origin for melanoma, breast cancer, and acute leukemia (Sandoval et al, 2016;Prieto et al, 2019;Ballesteros-Ramírez et al, 2020b).…”

“…On the other hand, in traditional medicine, the seeds and pods of C. spinosa are used to treat tonsillitis, gastric ulcers, and skin infections due to their high content of hydrolyzable tannins (derived from gallic acid) and their antibacterial, antitumor, astringent, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. They are also known for their high antioxidant capacity (Fiorentino and Urueña, 2018). It is distributed throughout Latin America, and in Colombia, it occurs naturally.…”

Avaliação da toxicidade aguda, antitumoral e efeitos inibitórios da inflamação aguda de Drimys brasiliensis (Winteraceae)

“…Among these approaches, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been considered potential candidates in the prevention and treatment of cancer, since some have antitumor activity, as well as a potent anti-inflammatory effect 8 . Medicinal plants also show similar potential, as many species have antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities 9 , including some species popularly used in the treatment of cancer 10,11 .…”