Advances in Cancer Prevention
Open Access

Cancer has been a constant battle globally with a lot of development in cures and preventative therapies. The disease is characterised by cells in the human body continually multiplying with the inability to be controlled or stopped. Consequently, forming tumours of malignant cells with the potential to be metastatic [1]. Current treatments include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and chemically derived drugs. Treatments such as chemotherapy can put patients under a lot of strain and further damage their health. Therefore, there is a focus on using alternative treatments and therapies against cancer [2]. For many years herbal medicines have been used and are still used in developing countries as the primary source of medical treatment. Plants have been used in medicine for their natural antiseptic properties. Thus, research has developed into investigating the potential properties and uses of terrestrial plants extracts for the preparation of potential nanomaterial based drugs for diseases including cancer [3]. Many plant species are already being used to treat or prevent development of cancer. Multiple researchers have identified species of plants that have demonstrated anticancer properties with a lot of focus on those that have been used in herbal medicine in developing countries. Compounds which are characteristic to the plant kingdom and are necessary for plant survival and housekeeping of the organism are being investigated for their ability to inhibit growth and initiate apoptosis of cancerous cells. This article aims to take an overview of current plant derived compounds that have anticancer therapeutic properties and their developments in the field [4]. The step towards development of cancer involves alterations of epigenetic processes and their deregulation. The control of hyper- methylation of tumour-suppressor genes on CpG islands is deregulated in cancer cells. This can result in gene silencing and inactivation of tumour-suppressor genes. Drugs which can inhibit or reverse epigenetic alterations have been in development over recent years [5]. Chemically derived epigenetic drugs have been developed and undergone trials such as 5-azacytidine and 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine which are both DNMTi and HDACi such as suberoyanilde hydroxamic acid and FK228. However, it is difficult to engineer a chemically derived drug which is non-toxic to normal cells and is specific to cytotoxicity of cancer cells. Therefore, development and research into naturally derived compounds to be used for anticancer treatment is becoming high in demand with a focus on those derived from plant species and their natural products [6]. There are many forms of cancer amongst the human population but they share similar characteristics or genotypes such as insensitivity to signals which inhibit cell growth making their replication limitless [7]. Apoptosis is evaded and never induced in cancer cells and angiogenesis is sustained within the tumour tissue allowing survival of cancer cells. Plant derived compounds have demonstrated properties to inhibit cancer cell activity such as inhibiting proliferation of cancer cells and inducing apoptotic cell death [8]. Medicinal plants have been used for thousands of years in folk medicines in Asian and African populations and many plants are consumed for their health benefits in developed nations [9]. According to the World Health Organisation some nations still reply of plant-based treatment as their main source of medicine and developing nations are utilising the benefits of naturally sourced compounds for therapeutic purposes. Compounds which have been identified and extracted from terrestrial plants for their anticancer properties include polyphenols, Brassinosteroids and taxols [10].

Acknowledgement

None

Conflict of Interest

None

1. Stroissnigg FH, Ling YY, Zhao J (2017) Identification of HSP90 inhibitors as a novel class of senolytics. Nat Commun EU 8: 1-14.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

2. Fidalgo JAP, Roda D, Roselló S (2009) Aurora kinase inhibitors: a new class of drugs targeting the regulatory mitotic system. Clin Transl Oncol EU 11:787-798.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

3. Folkman J (2003) Angiogenesis inhibitors: a new class of drugs. Cancer Biol Ther US 2:126-132.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

4.  Sano M (2018) A new class of drugs for heart failure: SGLT2 inhibitors reduce sympathetic overactivity. J Cardiol EU 71: 471-476.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

5. Sacchi S, Rosini E, Pollegioni L, Gianluca M (2013) D-amino acid oxidase inhibitors as a novel class of drugs for schizophrenia therapy. Curr Pharm Des UAE19:2499-2511.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

6. Li B, Chau JFL, Wang X (2011) Bisphosphonates, specific inhibitors of osteoclast function and a class of drugs for osteoporosis therapy. J Cell Biochem US 112:1229-1242.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

7. Kyttaris VC (2012) Kinase inhibitors: a new class of antirheumatic drugs. Drug Des Devel Ther UK 6: 245-250.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

8. Weber MA (2001) Vasopeptidase inhibitors. Lancet EU 358: 1525-1532.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

9. Kittleson MM, Hare JM (2005) Xanthine oxidase inhibitors: an emerging class of drugs for heart failure. Heart UK 91:707-709.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

10. Doan NB (2017) Acid ceramidase and its inhibitors: A de novo drug target and a new class of drugs for killing glioblastoma cancer stem cells with high efficiency. Oncotarget USA 8:112662-112674.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref