Targeting cancer with nano-bullets: curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin on flying carpets

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2014;15(9):3865-71. doi: 10.7314/apjcp.2014.15.9.3865.

Abstract

It is becoming progressively more understandable that different phytochemicals isolated from edible plants interfere with specific stages of carcinogenesis. Cancer cells have evolved hallmark mechanisms to escape from death. Concordant with this approach, there is a disruption of spatiotemproal behaviour of signaling cascades in cancer cells, which can escape from apoptosis because of downregulation of tumor suppressor genes and over- expression of oncogenes. Genomic instability, intra-tumor heterogeneity, cellular plasticity and metastasizing potential of cancer cells all are related to molecular alterations. Data obtained through in vitro studies has convincingly revealed that curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin are promising anticancer agents. Their efficacy has been tested in tumor xenografted mice and considerable experimental findings have stimulated researchers to further improve the bioavailability of these nutraceuticals. We partition this review into different sections with emphasis on how bioavailability of curcumin, EGCG, resveratrol and quercetin has improved using different nanotechnology approaches.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticarcinogenic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Catechin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Catechin / pharmacology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Lactic Acid / chemistry
  • Lactic Acid / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Phytochemicals / pharmacology
  • Polyglycolic Acid / chemistry
  • Polyglycolic Acid / pharmacology
  • Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / chemistry
  • Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate / pharmacology
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Quercetin / pharmacology*
  • Resveratrol
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Stilbenes / pharmacology*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Anticarcinogenic Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Drug Carriers
  • Phytochemicals
  • Stilbenes
  • Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer
  • Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate
  • Polyglycolic Acid
  • Lactic Acid
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Catechin
  • Quercetin
  • epigallocatechin gallate
  • Curcumin
  • Resveratrol