title: Withaferin-A--A Natural Anticancer Agent with Pleitropic Mechanisms of Action.
abstract: Cancer, being the second leading cause of mortality, exists as a formidable health challenge. In spite of our enormous efforts, the emerging complexities in the molecular nature of disease progression limit the real success in finding an effective cancer cure. It is now conceivable that cancer is, in fact, a progressive illness, and the morbidity and mortality from cancer can be reduced by interfering with various oncogenic signaling pathways. A wide variety of structurally diverse classes of bioactive phytochemicals have been shown to exert anticancer effects in a large number of preclinical studies. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that withaferin-A can prevent the development of cancers of various histotypes. Accumulating data from different rodent models and cell culture experiments have revealed that withaferin-A suppresses experimentally induced carcinogenesis, largely by virtue of its potent anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing properties. Moreover, withaferin-A sensitizes resistant cancer cells to existing chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this review is to highlight the mechanistic aspects underlying anticancer effects of withaferin-A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cosmetic science, Seowon University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-742, Korea. lic9418@seowon.ac.kr.
authors.forename: In-Chul
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Science &amp; Engineering, Seowon University, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-742, Korea. bychoi@seowon.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Bu Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D032341:Withania / Q000737:chemistry; D054358:Withanolides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D054358:Withanolides; C009684:withaferin A
keywords: cancer; chemoprevention; chemotherapy; phytochemical; withaferin-A