title: Cancer Chemoprevention by Phytochemicals: Nature's Healing Touch.
abstract: Phytochemicals are an important part of traditional medicine and have been investigated in detail for possible inclusion in modern medicine as well. These compounds often serve as the backbone for the synthesis of novel therapeutic agents. For many years, phytochemicals have demonstrated encouraging activity against various human cancer models in pre-clinical assays. Here, we discuss select phytochemicals-curcumin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, plumbagin and honokiol-in the context of their reported effects on the processes of inflammation and oxidative stress, which play a key role in tumorigenesis. We also discuss the emerging evidence on modulation of tumor microenvironment by these phytochemicals which can possibly define their cancer-specific action. Finally, we provide recent updates on how low bioavailability, a major concern with phytochemicals, is being circumvented and the general efficacy being improved, by synthesis of novel chemical analogs and nanoformulations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA. HZubair@health.southalabama.edu.
authors.forename: Haseeb
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zubair
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA. SAzim@health.southalabama.edu.
authors.forename: Shafquat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA. AAhmad@health.southalabama.edu.
authors.forename: Aamir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA. MAKhan@health.southalabama.edu.
authors.forename: Mohammad Aslam
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA. GPatel@health.southalabama.edu.
authors.forename: Girijesh Kumar
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA. SeemaSingh@health.southalabama.edu.|Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA. SeemaSingh@health.southalabama.edu.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36604, USA. ASingh@health.southalabama.edu.|Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA. ASingh@health.southalabama.edu.
authors.forename: Ajay Pratap
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D064209:Phytochemicals
keywords: cancer chemoprevention; inflammation; nanotechnology; phytochemicals; pro-oxidant; tumor microenvironment