Phytochemicals based chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic strategies and modern technologies to overcome limitations for better clinical applications

Abstract

Naturally occurring phytochemicals or plant derivatives are now being explored extensively for their health's benefits and medicinal uses. The therapeutic effect of phytochemicals has been reported in several pathophysiological settings such as inflammatory disorders, metabolic disorders, liver dysfunction, neurodegenerative disorders, and nephropathies. However, the most warranted therapeutic effects of phytochemicals were mapped to their anticancerous and chemopreventive action. Moreover, combining phytochemicals with standard chemotherapy has shown promising results in cancer therapy with minimal side effects and better efficacy. Many phytochemicals, like curcumin, resveratrol, and epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate, have been extensively investigated for their chemopreventive as well as chemotherapeutic effects. However, poor bioavailability, low solubility, hydrophobicity, and obscure target specificity restrict their therapeutic applications in the clinic. There has been a continually increasing interest to formulate nanoformulations of phytochemicals by using various nanocarriers, such as liposomes, micelles, nanoemulsions, and nanoparticles, to improve their bioavailability and target specificity, thereby maximizing the therapeutic potential. In the present review, we have summarized chemopreventive as well as chemotherapeutic action of some common phytochemicals and their major limitations in clinical application. Also, we have given an overview of strategies that can improve the efficacy of phytochemicals for their chemotherapeutic value in clinical settings.

Microgreens: Functional Food with Antiproliferative Cancer Properties Influenced by Light

“…Of interest, constraints pertaining to the physical micro-environment of spheroids as well as accompanying epigenetic effects have also been shown to render tumors resistant to cancer drug treatments in clinical settings [19,20,34,35]. Hence, there is the requisite for research into the efficacy of dietary phytochemicals in mitigating constraints related to the physical micro-environment of spheroids and epigenetic modifications [17,20,[33][34][35]. This approach may be particularly attractive for rare, hard-totreat cancer lines such as Ewing sarcoma, displaying resistance mechanisms [21,36], where, although nutraceutical supplementation is sought-after for patients, there is a requisite for phytochemicals with strictly pro-oxidant activity [37].…”

Hinokiflavone and Related C–O–C-Type Biflavonoids as Anti-cancer Compounds: Properties and Mechanism of Action

“…Similarly, amentoflavone has revealed multiple targets and pharmacological activities [19], as it is the case with many mono-flavonoids as well. A limited (or obscure) target specificity often restricts the therapeutic applications of these compounds in the clinic [125].…”

Role of autophagic response induced by major phytochemicals in cancer prevention and treatment

“…Moreover, the regulation of autophagy by phytochemicals in cancer cells also depends on epigenetic mechanisms that modulate the expression of key proteins involved in its induction [87] . The overall chemopreventive effects of various phytochemicals [88] , including those discussed in the current review, were also attributed to their ability in regulating microRNA levels. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which autophagy playsa role in cancer stem cells is critical in developing novel therapies [89] .…”