Role of Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention

Abstract

The use of synthetic, natural, or biological agents to minimize the occurrence of cancer in healthy individuals is defined as cancer chemoprevention. Chemopreventive agents inhibit the development of cancer either by impeding DNA damage, which leads to malignancy or by reversing or blocking the division of premalignant cells with DNA damage. The benefit of this approach has been demonstrated in clinical trials of breast, prostate, and colon cancer. The continuous increase in cancer cases, failure of conventional chemotherapies to control cancer, and excessive toxicity of chemotherapies clearly demand an alternative approach. The first trial to show benefit of chemoprevention was undertaken in breast cancer patients with the use of tamoxifen, which demonstrated a significant decrease in invasive breast cancer. The success of using chemopreventive agents for protecting the high risk populations from cancer indicates that the strategy is rational and promising. Dietary components such as capsaicin, cucurbitacin B, isoflavones, catechins, lycopenes, benzyl isothiocyanate, phenethyl isothiocyanate, and piperlongumine have demonstrated inhibitory effects on cancer cells indicating that they may serve as chemopreventive agents. In this review, we have addressed the mechanism of chemopreventive and anticancer effects of several natural agents.

Calebin A Potentiates the Effect of 5-FU and TNF-β (Lymphotoxin α) against Human Colorectal Cancer Cells: Potential Role of NF-κB

“…Extensive investigations have demonstrated that several natural agents have chemopreventive/chemosensitization and therapeutic potency against many chronic diseases including cancer [22]. A large body of evidence has shown that numerous plants have solid pharmacological characteristics and, indeed, over 60% of all drugs used in western medicine are originally derived from natural sources [23,24].…”

Phenethyl Isothiocyanate Suppresses Stemness in the Chemo- and Radio-Resistant Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Line MDA-MB-231/IR Via Downregulation of Metadherin

“…It is has reported that PEITC can exert anti-metastatic effects in a breast cancer cell model [61]. Moreover, PEITC has enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin and paclitacxel in breast cancer cells [61].…”

“…It is has reported that PEITC can exert anti-metastatic effects in a breast cancer cell model [61]. Moreover, PEITC has enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin and paclitacxel in breast cancer cells [61]. Moreover, PEITC treatment has been reported to inhibit breast tumor growth via suppressing T regulatory lymphocytes [61].…”

“…Moreover, PEITC has enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin and paclitacxel in breast cancer cells [61]. Moreover, PEITC treatment has been reported to inhibit breast tumor growth via suppressing T regulatory lymphocytes [61]. In a recent publication, PEITC has been shown to inhibit the activity of proteasomal cysteine deubiquitinases UCHL5 [62].…”

Transcriptomic Analysis, Motility and Biofilm Formation Characteristics of Salmonella typhimurium Exposed to Benzyl Isothiocyanate Treatment

“…Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) which is extensively found in senvy, pilu oil, cruciferous plants and papaya seeds [11], has been shown to exert potential health benefits to humans. According to the recent studies, BITC shows excellent therapeutic effects on cancer by reversing or blocking the proliferation of DNA-damaged precancerous cells [12][13][14]. In addition, BITC antibacterial mechanisms in foodborne bacteria have been widely studied.…”