[Antitumor activity of natural substances: lectins and saffron].
A major problem in the use of chemopreventing agents in cancer treatment is the potential toxicity of these drugs to normal cells. One approach to solve this problem is to employ the inhibitors of tumorigenesis which have a natural origin. Within the past few years, natural extracts or purified compounds have become a well-established means for studying varied aspects of cancer. The recent development in plant lectins research is characterized by increasing interest in the biological activities of these lectins, specially in their antitumor effect. Another natural spice-saffron-also become the focus of recent interest as antitumor agent. This review will briefly summarize research on the study of antitumor and anticarcinogenic effects of plant lectins and saffron extract or their constituents. These findings are interpreted and the possible mechanism of antitumor effects of plant lectins and saffron are discussed.
Departamento Investigación y Postgrado en Alimentos, Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, México.
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Abdullaev
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González de Mejía
D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019668:Liliaceae; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010946:Plants, Medicinal
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D037102:Lectins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D037121:Plant Lectins