Novel aspects for the application of Curcumin in chemoprevention of various cancers

Abstract

Chemoprevention of malignant tumor growth is a novel and potentially powerful approach for tumor therapy. Recent in vitro and in vivo investigations provide increasing evidence that naturally occurring substances may exhibit significant chemopreventive activities. To this regard, the spice Curcumin, widely used in Indian cuisine, has been identified to show considerable anti-tumor effects. Most interestingly, numerous studies have not shown toxic side effects of this substance. Curcumin induces tumor cell apoptosis along with a reduction of tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Recent molecular studies provide evidence that Curcumin acts via a control of the NFkappaB pathway exerting most of the various modulating and moderating effects on malignant cells. Along with these in vitro studies, ex vivo and first clinical investigations confirm the anti-tumor effects of Curcumin, either as an isolated chemoprevention substance or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents as supportive measure reducing pharmaceutical resistance of tumor cells to certain chemotherapeutics. Despite our increasing knowledge on this interesting substance there still remain many unknown effects that deserve intense investigation.

3,5-Bis(2,4-Difluorobenzylidene)-4-piperidone, a Novel Compound That Affects Pancreatic Cancer Growth and Angiogenesis

“…Although curcumin can effectively inhibit the growth of pancreatic cancer cells, its low bioavailability in vivo means higher doses are required for effective treatment or prevention (38, 39). Hence, more potent and soluble curcumin analogs are being developed (14–16).…”

Isolation of quinone reductase (QR) inducing agents from ginger rhizome and their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity

“…Recently, increasing evidence based on in vitro and in vivo investigations have been linked to a decreased cancer risk with the consumption of certain dietary photochemicals (Bachmeier et al 2010;Russo 2007). Among the multiple mechanisms underlying the chemopreventive potential of these constituents, xenobiotictransforming and antioxidant defense systems are widely viewed as affording protection from cancer through the detoxification of potential carcinogens and mitigation of oxidative stress (Calabrese et al 2008).…”

Cancer chemopreventive effect of fractions from cranberry products

“…Recently, increasing evidence based on in vitro and in vivo investigations have been linked to a decreased cancer risk with the consumption of certain dietary photochemicals (Bachmeier, Killian, Pfeffer & Nerlich, 2010). Among the multiple mechanisms underlying the chemopreventive potential of these constituents, xenobiotictransforming and antioxidant defense systems are widely viewed as affording protection from cancer through the detoxification of potential carcinogens and mitigation of oxidative stress (Calabrese et al, 2008).…”