Sesquiterpenes: Natural Products That Decrease Cancer Growth

Abstract

Despite recent advances in our understanding of the biological processes leading to the development of cancer, there is still a need for new and effective agents to help bring this disease under control. One of the oldest and most effective strategies for developing new chemotherapeutics is the isolation and evaluation of chemicals of natural origin. The importance of natural products for drug discovery has been impressive: One has to only look at the number of clinically active drugs that are used in cancer therapy to see how many are either natural products or are based on natural products. It is also apparent that materials from natural sources are excellent probes (indicators) for cellular targets that, when modulated, may have a deleterious effect upon the survival or proliferation of tumor cells. And the search goes on. Sesquiterpenes are a class of naturally occurring molecules that have demonstrated therapeutic potential in decreasing the progression of cancer. These molecules are 15-carbon isoprenoid compounds that are typically found in plants and marine life. Although this class of compounds has frequently provided encouraging leads for chemotherapeutics, they have not been evaluated as potential anticancer agents. In this review, we provide a current overview of sesquiterpenoids that have potential as anticancer agents.

Biosynthesis of plant‐derived flavor compounds

“…Therefore, many terpenoids are commercially important and are widely used as flavoring agents, perfumes, insecticides, anti-microbial agents and important raw material for the manufacture of vitamins and other key chemicals. Many terpenoids have medicinal properties; consequently they are of interest to the pharmaceutical industry as antiretroviral agents or anti-malarial compounds (Modzelewska et al, 2005). As a result, modulation of terpenoid biosynthesis in medicinal and aromatic plants has received much interest (Gó mez-Galera et al, 2007;Croteau, 2001, 2002;Mahmoud et al, 2004;Muñ oz-Bertomeu et al, 2006Tadmor and Lewinsohn, 2007).…”

Biosynthesis of Food Flavours and Fragrances - A Review

“…These are carbohydrate derived flavour compounds and consists of a light odour characteristics which is due to the presence of uncommon group of flavour molecules with exceptional low odour threshold [53]. Furanones are mainly present in the fruit part alone whereas pyrones are obtained from barks and leaves of plant species like Larix deciduas, Evodiopanax innovans, Cercidiphyllum japonicum and four kinds of Pinaceae plants [58,59].…”

Need of an Ancient Roots to Modern Medicine in the Treatment of Cancer- A review

“…Those typically found on plants and marine life. They have therapeutic potential in decreasing the progression of cancer [64]. Platycodon proven that has anti-cancer properties [65].…”