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Paradoxical Cellular Effects and Biological Role of the Multifaceted Compound Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid
Author(s) -
HernándezDamián Jacqueline,
AndéricaRomero Ana Cristina,
PedrazaChaverri José
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
archiv der pharmazie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.468
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1521-4184
pISSN - 0365-6233
DOI - 10.1002/ardp.201400159
Subject(s) - nordihydroguaiaretic acid , antioxidant , free radical scavenger , chemistry , apoptosis , reactive oxygen species , pharmacology , lipoxygenase , mitochondrion , biochemistry , biology , enzyme
Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) is a phenolic compound obtained from the leaves of the evergreen desert shrub Larrea tridentata (Creosote bush), which has been used anciently in folk medicine for the treatment of multiple diseases. At the molecular level, NDGA is a potent scavenger of reactive oxygen species. Lipoxygenase inhibition by NDGA has been broadly studied over several cell models; however, NDGA exerts other antioxidant properties and cytoprotective effects in non‐tumor cells, which are related with its role as modulator of the nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) antioxidant pathway. In contrast, in tumor cells NDGA exerts pro‐apoptotic activity and anti‐tumor effects. Different effects of NDGA have been observed in mitochondria, where NDGA prevents mitochondrial damage in non‐tumor cells and induces loss of mitochondrial function in tumor cells. Moreover, NDGA exerts beneficial effects in diverse diseases like cancer, renal damage, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurodegenerative pathologies. This work represents a critical review about relevant NDGA mechanisms, cellular effects, and signal pathways involved with possible useful effects.