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Medicinal plants: active compounds, properties and antiproliferative effects in colorectal cancer

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Abstract

Cancer development consists of a multitude of steps that occur progressively starting with initial driver mutation(s), to tumorigenesis, and ultimately metastasis. However, relatively little is known about the key epigenetic events that lead to tumour progression and metastasis. On the other hand, it is widely known that cancer cells acquire instruments to circumvent programmed cell death. Epidemiological studies suggest that medicinal plants can act as epigenetic compounds promoting several strategies to override apoptosis, including the induction of programmed cell death, the arrest of cell proliferation, or both. Interestingly, around half of current pharmaceutical drugs have been derived, directly or indirectly, from natural sources. Many species have been recognized to have medicinal properties and beneficial impact on health, such as, antioxidant or anti-inflammatory activities, anti-mutagenic effects and anti-carcinogenic potential. This review thoroughly discusses about the chemical composition and biochemical properties of four medicinal and Mediterranean plants such as Aloe vera, Salvia officinalis L. (Sage), Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Rosemary) and Urtica dioica (Nettle), and compares the potential of these plants to modify proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and apoptosis in colorectal cancer.

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Abbreviations

CA:

Carnosic acid

CRC:

Colorectal cancer

DSS:

Dextran sodium sulfate

FAP:

Familial adenomatous polyposis

HNPCC:

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer

PMA:

Phorbol-12-myristyl-13-acetate

RA:

Rosmarinic acid

UD:

Urtica dioica

VEGF-A:

Vascular endothelial growth factor A

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Funding

Dr. Orenes-Piñero is supported by a postdoctoral contract from the Instituto Murciano de Investigaciones Biosanitarias Virgen de la Arrixaca (IMIB-Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-A, University of Murcia, Avda. de las Fuerzas Armadas, s/n, 30800, Lorca, Murcia, Spain

    Nieves Martínez-Aledo & Esteban Orenes-Piñero

  2. Department of Surgery, Hospital la Vega HLA, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain

    Diana Navas-Carrillo

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  1. Nieves Martínez-Aledo
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  2. Diana Navas-Carrillo
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  3. Esteban Orenes-Piñero
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Correspondence to Esteban Orenes-Piñero.

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Martínez-Aledo, N., Navas-Carrillo, D. & Orenes-Piñero, E. Medicinal plants: active compounds, properties and antiproliferative effects in colorectal cancer. Phytochem Rev 19, 123–137 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-020-09660-1

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