Combination Anticancer Therapies Using Selected Phytochemicals

Abstract

Cancer is still one of the most widespread diseases globally, it is considered a vital health challenge worldwide and one of the main barriers to long life expectancy. Due to the potential toxicity and lack of selectivity of conventional chemotherapeutic agents, discovering alternative treatments is a top priority. Plant-derived natural products have high potential in cancer treatment due to their multiple mechanisms of action, diversity in structure, availability in nature, and relatively low toxicity. In this review, the anticancer mechanisms of the most common phytochemicals were analyzed. Furthermore, a detailed discussion of the anticancer effect of combinations consisting of natural product or natural products with chemotherapeutic drugs was provided. This review should provide a strong platform for researchers and clinicians to improve basic and clinical research in the development of alternative anticancer medicines.

Keywords: alternative anticancer therapy; cancer; curcumin; natural products; resveratrol.

Figure 1

Chemical structure of curcumin.

Figure 2

Chemical structure of resveratrol. (a) Trans-resveratrol and (b) Cis-resveratrol.

Figure 3

Chemical structure of genistein.

Figure 4

Chemical structure of EGCG.

Figure 5

Chemical structure of allicin.

Figure 6

Chemical structure of thymoquinone.

Figure 7

Chemical structure of piperine.

Figure 8

Chemical structure of emodin.

Figure 9

Chemical structure of parthenolide.

Figure 10

Chemical structure of luteolin.

Figure 11

Chemical structure of quercetin.

Figure 12

Chemical structure of anthocyanins (cyanidin).

Figure 13

A summary of the natural compounds with their combination therapy. QUR, quercetin; CUR, curcumin; TQ, Thymoquinone; LTN, Luteolin; ACN, anthocyanins; PTL, parthenolide; GNT, genistein; PIP, piperine; EMD, emodin; RES, resveratrol; ALN, allicin; CIS, cisplatin; DOX, doxorubicin; MT, melatonin; TMZ, temozolomide; Tmab, trastuzumab; TAM, tamoxifen; DTX, docetaxel; PTX, paclitaxel; CCB, celecoxib; CAPS, capsaicin; PF, photofrin; SFN, sulforaphane; GEF, gefitinib; ASC, ascorbic acid; ADM, Adriamycin; MSM, methylsulfonylmethane; RJ, royal jelly; PF, pentoxifylline; BV, bee venom; HES, hesperidin; BBR, berberine; SFB, sorafenib; AFT, afatinib; GEM, gemcitabine; ENDX, endoxifen; G-CK, ginsenoside compound k; G-Rh, ginsenoside Rh; EPR, epirubicin; ICG, indocyanine green; ATO, arsenic trioxide; BLZ, balsalazide; SB, silibinin; BCN, baicalein; VIN, vincristine; RT, radiotherapy.