Open AccessPhytotherapy for colorectal cancer: about some phytochemicals and their mechanisms of action]
Author(s) -
Patricia Landázuri,
B Juan Camilo Restrepo,
Nelsy Loango
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
medicinal plant communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2452-4433
DOI - 10.37360/mpc.20.3.3.15
Subject(s) - colorectal cancer , cancer , medicine , polyphenol , metastasis , traditional medicine , phytotherapy , apoptosis , bioinformatics , cancer research , pharmacology , biology , alternative medicine , biochemistry , antioxidant , pathology
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is very common in both men and women. Phytochemicals such as polysaccharide alkaloids, polyphenols, diterpenoids among others, have been used for the prevention and treatment of cancer. The mechanisms of action of these compounds on cancer cells include molecular targets in the apoptosis, proliferation, metastasis and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways. At the level of the whole organism, they improve the intestinal microbiota, which plays an important role in the initiation and progression of CRC. Recent research is aimed at obtaining and modifying phytochemicals to improve their effectiveness, safety and their inclusion in functional foods, but more studies are needed to validate their properties.