title: Guggulsterone for Chemoprevention of Cancer.
abstract: Guggulsterone [4, 17(20)-pregnadiene-3, 16-dione] is a plant sterol derived from the gum resin of the tree Commiphora wightii. The gum resin of the guggul tree has been used in traditional medicine for centuries to treat obesity, liver disorders, internal tumors, malignant sores, ulcers, urinary complaints, intestinal worms, leucoderma, sinus, edema and sudden paralytic seizures. Guggulsterone has been shown to modulate the nuclear receptors, farnesoid X receptor, pregnane X receptor, CYP 2b10 gene expression, and the bile salt export pump for cholesterol elimination. Recent research indicates that the active components of gum guggul, E- and Zguggulsterone have the potential to both prevent and treat cancers. Guggulsterone inhibits the growth of a wide variety of tumor cells and induces apoptosis through down regulation of antiapoptotic gene products (IAP1, xIAP, Bfl-1/A1, Bcl-2, cFLIP, and survivin), modulation of cell cycle proteins (cyclin D1 and c-Myc), activation of caspases, inhibition of Akt, and activation of JNK. Guggulsterone modulates the expression of gene products involved in metastasis (MMP-9, COX-2, and VEGF) of tumor cells. Guggulsterone mediates gene expression through the modulation of several transcription factors, including NF-κB, STAT3, C/EBPα, androgen receptor, and glucocorticoid receptors. This review describes the anti-cancer properties, molecular targets, and the apoptotic effects of guggulsterone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Texas Southern University, 3100 Cleburne Street, Houston, Texas 77004, USA. shishodias@tsu.edu.
authors.forename: Shishir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shishodia
authors.forename: Nkem
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Azu
authors.forename: Jason A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rosenzweig
authors.forename: Desiree A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D029744:Commiphora / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000517:prevention & control; D053149:Plant Gums / Q000737:chemistry; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000737:chemistry; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053149:Plant Gums; D011282:Pregnenediones; D012116:Resins, Plant; C023617:pregna-4,17-diene-3,16-dione