Phytochemicals from Indian Ethnomedicines: Promising Prospects for the Management of Oxidative Stress and Cancer

Abstract

Oxygen is indispensable for most organisms on the earth because of its role in respiration. However, it is also associated with several unwanted effects which may sometimes prove fatal in the long run. Such effects are more evident in cells exposed to strong oxidants containing reactive oxygen species (ROS). The adverse outcomes of oxidative metabolism are referred to as oxidative stress, which is a staple theme in contemporary medical research. Oxidative stress leads to plasma membrane disruption through lipid peroxidation and has several other deleterious effects. A large body of literature suggests the involvement of ROS in cancer, ageing, and several other health hazards of the modern world. Plant-based cures for these conditions are desperately sought after as supposedly safer alternatives to mainstream medicines. Phytochemicals, which constitute a diverse group of plant-based substances with varying roles in oxidative reactions of the body, are implicated in the treatment of cancer, aging, and all other ROS-induced anomalies. This review presents a summary of important phytochemicals extracted from medicinal plants which are a part of Indian ethnomedicine and Ayurveda and describes their possible therapeutic significance.

Differential Activity of Antioxidants in Testicular Tissues Following Administration of Chlorophytum borivilianum in Gamma-Irradiated Swiss Albino Mice

“…Exposure to radiations either ionizing or non-ionizing may have several harmful effects on the brain and the reproductive system ( Kesari et al, 2013 ; Kesari et al, 2018 ). However, the use of plant-derived biomolecules or phytochemicals especially from Indian ethnomedicines may play a major role in the treatment of severe diseases ( Kesari et al, 2020 ; Fatima et al, 2021 ) which may be caused by mutagenic factors (chemical, physical, and biological). Moreover, this study not only establishes CRE and CRE-AgNPs as radioprotectors but also opens the door for more detailed research on CRE-AgNPs and whether they can be exploited for pharmacological properties like antioxidant, antidiabetic, antitumor, or aphrodisiac.…”

Hormonal and inflammatory modulatory effects of hesperidin in hyperthyroidism-modeled rats

“…Adverse reactions can occur with anti-hyperthyroid drugs, mostly severe liver damage; however, many are life threatening, and their management is complex, and currently a key debate amongst endocrinologists ( 7 ). A lot of research has been done recently on plants that are rich in natural phytochemicals such polyphenols, tocopherols, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, carotenoids, and terpenoids because of their significant immunomodulatory, anti-carcinogenic, and antioxidant capabilities ( 8 ). Hesperidin (3’, 5, 7-trihydroxy-4’-methoxy flavanone-7-6-O-Lrhamnosyl-D-glucose) is a naturally occurring flavonoid that is widely distributed in plants and fruits.…”

Updates on the anticancer potential of garlic organosulfur compounds and their nanoformulations: Plant therapeutics in cancer management

“…While both alliin and allicin reduced cell viability of MCF-7 (luminal-A) and HCC-70 (triplenegative) breast cancer cells, allicin showed more pronounced cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activity in both cells by lowering mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptotic induction, and enhanced expression level of various caspases. Additionally, it increased the expression level of proapoptotic proteins (p21, Noxa, and Bak) while downregulated the expression level of Bcl-xL antiapoptotic protein (Tsubura et al, 2011;Milczarek, 2020;Fatima et al, 2021;Catanzaro et al, 2022). In contrast to allicin, alliin caused senescence in both MCF-7 (luminal-A) and HCC-70 (triple-negative) breast cancer cells in a dose dependent manner (Farhat et al, 2021).…”