title: Potential therapeutic targets of Guggulsterone in cancer.
abstract: Natural compounds capable of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells have always been of considerable interest as potential anti-cancer agents. Many such compounds are under screening and development with their potential evolution as a clinical drug benefiting many of the cancer patients. Guggulsterone (GS), a phytosterol isolated gum resin of the treeCommiphora mukulhas been widely used in Indian traditional medicine as a remedy for various diseses. GS has been shown to possess cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic potential as established by in vitro and in vivo studies. GS has been shown to target constitutively activated survival pathways such as PI3-kinase/AKT, JAK/STAT, and NFκB signaling pathways that are involved in the regulation of growth and inflammatory responsesviaregulation of antiapoptotic and inflammatory genes. The current review focuses on the molecular targets of GS, cellular responses, and the animal model studies in various cancers. The mechanistic action of GS in different types of cancers also forms a part of this review. The perspective of translating this natural compound into a clinically approved drug with its pros and cons is also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Ajaz A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Kirti S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Prabhu
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuttikrishnan
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Roopesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krishnankutty
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE USA.
authors.forename: Jayaprakash
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Ramzi M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Mohammad
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, PO Box 3050, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Shahab
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1886-6710
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uddin
keywords: Cancers; Chemoprevention; Guggulsterone; Molecular targets; Natural compounds