189
8.3
Anti-tumour Phytoconstituents
The anti-tumour activity of curcumin is manifold and research evidence accumulated over the last 50 years indicates that curcumin prevents and cures cancer. The
anti-cancer property of curcumin is via its ability to suppress the proliferation of a
variety of tumours. Curcumin inhibits carcinogenesis of the breast, colon, liver,
lung, skin, stomach, etc. and the proliferation of a wide variety of malignant cells in
culture. It also promotes apoptosis by way of caspase-9 activation, cytochrome c
release, caspase-3 activation, inhibition of IkappaBalpha kinase, and so on
(Mukhopadhyay et al. 2001; Anto et al. 2002; Aggarwal et al. 2003, Siwak et al.
2005; Yan et al. 2005; Aggarwal et al. 2005, Bachmeier et al. 2008, 2010). John
et al. (2002) found copper complexes and its derivatives to be better anti-cancer
agents than the original compounds. Karikar et al. (2007) reported the cancer-related
application of “nanocurcumin” (<100 nm) on pancreatic cell lines. Pre-clinical
studies on the anti-cancer property of liposome-bound curcumin formulation when
compared to oxaliplatin (a standard chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal cancer)
showed significant apoptotic effects in vitro and in vivo (Li et al. 2007).
Jančinová et al. (2011) found that curcumin (diferuloylmethane) not only suppressed mechanisms leading to inflammation, but also resolved inflammation by
apoptosis of neutrophils. Curcumin decreased phagocytotic potential in neutrophils,
both in vitro and in vivo when orally administered.
Boswellic acid, the active component of Boswellia serrata, inhibited 5-LOX and
leukocyte elastase, thereby reducing inflammation (Safayhi et al. 1992, 1994, 1995;
Ammon et al. 1993; Kapil and Moza 1992). Acetyl-keto-beta-boswellic acid
(AKBA), an active principle from B. serrata, was found to combat inflammatory
diseases, including cancer. AKBA inhibits cancers of brain, colon, liver, pancreas,
blood, etc. (Shao et al. 1998; Glaser et al. 1999; Jing et al. 1999; Huang et al. 2000;
Winking et al. 2000; Liu et al. 2002; Zhao et al. 2003; Park et al. 2011). Neeta and
Dureja (2014) highlighted the modalities of treatment, the structure, and the toxicological profiles of the different Boswellia species. Yadav et al. (2012) reports
boswellic acid analogue to prevent proliferation and spread of colorectal cancer of
humans in vivo using nude mice models.
Molecular targets of biomolecules from ayurvedic plants include nuclear factor
kB acted upon by a wide range of plant-derived molecules like those from Curcuma
longa (more than 32), Withania somnifera, Boswellia serrata, Zingiber zerumbet,
etc.; transcription activators (STAT) -3, Nrf-2; targeted by C. longa, Indigofera tinctoria, Vitis vinifera; Growth factors like EGF transforming growth factor β, vascular
endothelial growth factor; inflammatory cytokines, protein linase, etc. were acted
upon by C. longa (Garodia et al. 2007).
8 Cancer Combating Biomolecules From Plants
8.3
Anti-tumour Phytoconstituents
The anti-tumour activity of curcumin is manifold and research evidence accumulated over the last 50 years indicates that curcumin prevents and cures cancer. The
anti-cancer property of curcumin is via its ability to suppress the proliferation of a
variety of tumours. Curcumin inhibits carcinogenesis of the breast, colon, liver,
lung, skin, stomach, etc. and the proliferation of a wide variety of malignant cells in
culture. It also promotes apoptosis by way of caspase-9 activation, cytochrome c
release, caspase-3 activation, inhibition of IkappaBalpha kinase, and so on
(Mukhopadhyay et al. 2001; Anto et al. 2002; Aggarwal et al. 2003, Siwak et al.
2005; Yan et al. 2005; Aggarwal et al. 2005, Bachmeier et al. 2008, 2010). John
et al. (2002) found copper complexes and its derivatives to be better anti-cancer
agents than the original compounds. Karikar et al. (2007) reported the cancer-related
application of “nanocurcumin” (<100 nm) on pancreatic cell lines. Pre-clinical
studies on the anti-cancer property of liposome-bound curcumin formulation when
compared to oxaliplatin (a standard chemotherapeutic agent for colorectal cancer)
showed significant apoptotic effects in vitro and in vivo (Li et al. 2007).
Jančinová et al. (2011) found that curcumin (diferuloylmethane) not only suppressed mechanisms leading to inflammation, but also resolved inflammation by
apoptosis of neutrophils. Curcumin decreased phagocytotic potential in neutrophils,
both in vitro and in vivo when orally administered.
Boswellic acid, the active component of Boswellia serrata, inhibited 5-LOX and
leukocyte elastase, thereby reducing inflammation (Safayhi et al. 1992, 1994, 1995;
Ammon et al. 1993; Kapil and Moza 1992). Acetyl-keto-beta-boswellic acid
(AKBA), an active principle from B. serrata, was found to combat inflammatory
diseases, including cancer. AKBA inhibits cancers of brain, colon, liver, pancreas,
blood, etc. (Shao et al. 1998; Glaser et al. 1999; Jing et al. 1999; Huang et al. 2000;
Winking et al. 2000; Liu et al. 2002; Zhao et al. 2003; Park et al. 2011). Neeta and
Dureja (2014) highlighted the modalities of treatment, the structure, and the toxicological profiles of the different Boswellia species. Yadav et al. (2012) reports
boswellic acid analogue to prevent proliferation and spread of colorectal cancer of
humans in vivo using nude mice models.
Molecular targets of biomolecules from ayurvedic plants include nuclear factor
kB acted upon by a wide range of plant-derived molecules like those from Curcuma
longa (more than 32), Withania somnifera, Boswellia serrata, Zingiber zerumbet,
etc.; transcription activators (STAT) -3, Nrf-2; targeted by C. longa, Indigofera tinctoria, Vitis vinifera; Growth factors like EGF transforming growth factor β, vascular
endothelial growth factor; inflammatory cytokines, protein linase, etc. were acted
upon by C. longa (Garodia et al. 2007).
8 Cancer Combating Biomolecules From Plants