Anticancer Plants Mechanisms And Molecular Interactions

This book summarizes the application of plant derived anticancer compounds as chemopreventives to treat several cancer types, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of action of phytocompounds and providing an overview of the basic processes at the cellular and molecular level that are involved in the progression of the cancer and can be employed in targeted preventive therapies. In addition, it highlights the development of novel anticancer drugs from plant sources using bioinformatics approaches. The compiled chapter data aids readers understanding of issues related to bioavailability, toxic effects and mechanisms of action of phytocompounds, and helps them identify the leads and utilize them against various cancer types effectively. Furthermore, it promotes the use of bioinformatics tools in medicinal plants to expedite their use in plant breeding programs to develop molecular markers to distinguish disease subtypes and predicting mutation, which in turn improves cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and to develop new lead compounds computationally. The book provides scientific verifications of plant compounds mechanisms of action against various cancers and offers useful information for students, teachers, and healthcare professionals involved in drug discovery, and clinical and therapeutic research.

This volume provides summarized scientific evidence of the different classes of plant-derived phytocompounds, their sources, chemical structures, anticancer properties, mechanisms of action, methods of extraction, and their applications in cancer therapy. It also discusses endophyte-derived compounds as chemopreventives to treat various cancer types. In addition, it provides detailed information on the enhanced production of therapeutically valuable anticancer metabolites using biotechnological interventions such as plant cell and tissue culture approaches, including in vitro-, hairy root- and cell-suspension culture; and metabolic engineering of biosynthetic pathways. Anticancer Plants: Natural Products and Biotechnological Implements – Volume 2” explores the natural bioactive compounds isolated from plants as well as fungal endophytes, their chemistry, and preventive effects to reduce the risk of cancer. Moreover, it highlights the genomics/proteomics approaches and biotechnological implementations. Providing solutions to deal with the challenges involved in cancer therapy, the book benefits a wide range of readers including academics, students, and industrial experts working in the area of natural products, medicinal plant chemistry, pharmacology, and biotechnology.

Cancer is one of the leading death cause of human population increasingly seen in recent times. Plants have been used for medicinal purposes since immemorial times. Though, several synthetic medicines are useful in treating cancer, they are inefficient and unsafe. However, plants have proved to be useful in cancer cure. Moreover, natural compounds from plants and their derivatives are safe and effective in treatment and management of several cancer types. The anticancer plants such as Catharanthus roseus, Podophyllum peltatum, Taxus brevifolia, Camptotheca acuminate, Andrographis paniculata, Crateva nurvala, Croton tonkinensis, Oplopanax horridus etc., are important source of chemotherapeutic compounds. These plants have proven their significance in the treatment of cancer and various other infectious diseases. Nowadays, several well-known anticancer compounds such as taxol, podophyllotoxins, camptothecin, vinblastine, vincristine, homoharringtonine etc. have been isolated and purified from these medicinal plants. Many of them are used effectively to combat cancer and other related diseases. The herbal medicine and their products are the most suitable and safe to be used as an alternative medicine. Based on their traditional uses and experimental evidences, the anticancer products or compounds are isolated or extracted from the medicinally important plants. Many of these anticancer plants have become endangered due to ruthless harvesting in nature. Hence, there is a need to conserve these species and to propagate them in large scale using plant tissue culture. Alternatively, plant cell tissue and organ culture biotechnology can be adopted to produce these anticancer compounds without cultivation. The proper knowledge and exploration of these isolated molecules or products could provide an alternative source to reduce cancer risk, anti-tumorigenic properties, and suppression of carcinogen activities. Anticancer plants: Volume 1, Properties and Application is a very timely effort in this direction. Discussing the various types of anticancer plants as a source of curative agent, their pharmacological and neutraceutical properties, cryo-preservations and recent trends to understand the basic cause and consequences involved in the diseases diagnosis. We acknowledge the publisher, Springer for their continuous inspiration and valuable suggestions to improvise the content of this book. We further extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our book contributors for their support, and assistance to complete this assignment. I am sure that these books will benefit the scientific communities including academics, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and medical practitioners.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in human beings. Though several synthetic medicines are used to treat cancer, they are largely inefficient and unsafe. In contrast, plants, which have been used for medicinal purposes since time immemorial, have proved to be useful in fighting cancer, with natural compounds from plants and their derivatives offering safe and effective treatment and management for several types of cancer. Plants such as Catharanthus roseus, Podophyllum peltatum, Taxus brevifolia, Camptotheca acuminate, Andrographis paniculata, Crateva nurvala, Croton tonkinensis, Oplopanax horridus etc., are important source of chemotherapeutic compounds. These plants have proven their value in the treatment of cancer and various other infectious diseases, and several common anticancer compounds such as taxol, podophyllotoxins, camptothecin, vinblastine, vincristine, homoharringtonine etc. have been isolated and purified from these medicinal plants. Unfortunately, many of these anticancer plants have become endangered due to ruthless and irresponsible harvesting practices. Hence, there is a need to conserve these species and to propagate them on a large scale using plant tissue culture. Alternatively, plant cell tissue and organ culture biotechnology could be adopted to produce these anticancer compounds without the need for cultivation. A better grasp and continuing exploration of these isolated molecules and products could provide a powerful alternative means of reducing cancer risk. “Anticancer Plants: Volume 3, Clinical Trials and Nanotechnology” provides a timely review of concepts and experimental data on the application of anticancer plants and their compounds in clinical trials, and on the use of nanotechnology in cancer therapy.

Evolutionary Diversity as a Source for Anticancer Molecules discusses evolutionary diversity as source for anticancer agents derived from bacteria, algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, and gymnosperms. The book goes over the isolation of anticancer agents and the technologyenabled screening process used to develop anticancer drugs. The book also includes discussion of the nutraceuticals and natural productsderived from invertebrates that can be used as part of cancer treatment. Evolutionary Diversity as a Source for Anticancer Molecules also deals with some of the current challenges in the prevention of cancer as well as the side effects of conventional drugs used for cancer patients.This book is a valuable resource for cancer researchers, oncologists, biotechnologists, pharmacologists, and any member of the biomedicalfield interested in understanding more about natural products with anticancer potential. Discusses the application of natural products in place of conventional drugs to minimize the side effects in cancer treatment Explains the relation between evolutionary mechanisms and climate change for production of secondary metabolites

Paclitaxel: Sources, Chemistry, Anticancer Actions, and Current Biotechnology provides a comprehensive survey of Paclitaxel and its derivatives chemistry, biosynthesis and anticancer activities. In addition, biotechnological methods, including cell cultures, the use of bioreactors and metabolic engineering strategies to improve Paclitaxel production are also discussed. The book discusses topics such as mechanisms of action against cancer, novel forms of Paclitaxel for an effective cancer treatment, strategies for enhancing its bioavailability, and the application of nanocarriers for its delivery and chemotherapy of cancer. This is a valuable resource for cancer researchers, biotechnologists and members of biomedical field who are interested in the promising anticancer qualities of this antineoplastic drug and how to enhance them for better treatments. Presents detailed information about Paclitaxel research, from its discovery to clinical uses and biotechnological routes of commercial production Focuses on Paclitaxel development as an effective chemotherapeutic drug, along with its application in different types of cancers Encompasses descriptive illustrations and workflows to help the reader fully understand the content and easily apply it to their research

Advances in anti-cancer chemotherapy over recent years have led to improved efficacy in curing or controlling many cancers. Some chemotherapy-related side-effects are well recognized and include: nausea, vomiting, bone marrow suppression, peripheral neuropathy, cardiac and skeletal muscle dysfunction and renal impairment. However, it is becoming clearer that some chemotherapy-related adverse effects may persist even in long term cancer survivors. Problems such as cognitive, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal dysfunction, and neuropathy may lead to substantial long term morbidity. Despite improvements in treatments to counteract acute chemotherapy-induced adverse effects, they are often incompletely effective. Furthermore, counter-measures for some acute side-effects and many potential longer term sequelae of anti-cancer chemotherapy have not been developed. Thus, new insights into prevalence and mechanisms of cancer chemotherapy-related side effects are needed and new approaches to improving tolerance and reduce sequelae of cancer chemotherapy are urgently needed. The present Research Topic focuses on adverse effects and sequelae of chemotherapy and strategies to counteract them.

Plants produce a vast number of bioactive compounds with different chemical scaffolds, which modulate a diverse range of molecular targets and are used as drugs for treating numerous diseases. Most present-day medicines are derived either from plant compounds or their derivatives, and plant compounds continue to offer limitless reserves for the discovery of new medicines. While different classes of plant compounds, like phenolics, flavonoids, saponins and alkaloids, and their potential pharmacological applications are currently being explored, their curative mechanisms are yet to be understood in detail. This book is divided into 2 volumes and offers detailed information on plant-derived bioactive compounds, including recent research findings. Volume 1, “Plant-derived Bioactives: Chemistry and Mode of Action” discusses the chemistry of highly valued plant bioactive compounds and their mode of actions at the molecular level. Volume 2, “Plant-derived Bioactives: Production, Properties and Therapeutic Applications” explores the sources, biosynthesis, production, biological properties and therapeutic applications of plant bioactives. Given their scope, these books are valuable resources for members of the scientific community wishing to further explore various medicinal plants and the therapeutic applications of their bioactive compounds. They appeal to scholars, teachers and scientists involved in plant product research, and facilitate the development of new drugs.