Submit your Manuscript Submit your Abstract Propose a Topic

Topic Menu

Topic Editors

Prof. Dr. Shun-Fa Yang

E-Mail Website

Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

Dr. Ming-Hsien Chien

E-Mail Website

Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan

Advances in Natural Products and Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention and Therapeutics

Abstract submission deadline

13 November 2024

Manuscript submission deadline

13 February 2025

Viewed by

4433

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Natural products, or phytochemicals, generally refer to as compounds that are exclusive to essential nutrients that have specific biological activities in humans. Studies have shown that natural phytochemicals derived from certain plants have the ability to prevent carcinogenesis. Therefore, new active compounds responsible for the anti-cancer characteristics of dietary plants, and new active compounds that exert novel anti-carcinogenesis functions are important topics in cancer research. We invite researchers to contribute original and review articles regarding the relationships between natural products, phytochemicals and cancers, including the discovery of novel anti-cancer phytochemicals, signalling pathways, and phytochemical signalling molecules for potential cancer treatment strategies. We are pleased to invite you to our Special Issue “Advances in Natural Products and Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention and Therapeutics”. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Shun-Fa Yang
Dr. Ming-Hsien Chien
Topic Editors

Keywords

natural compound
phytochemicals
chemoprevention
anti-cancer
flavonoids
apoptosis
metastasis
autophagy
MMP

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Antioxidants antioxidants	7.0	8.8	2012	14.4 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Biomolecules biomolecules	5.5	8.3	2011	19.2 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Cancers cancers	5.2	7.4	2009	18.2 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Cells cells	6.0	9.0	2012	18.8 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
International Journal of Molecular Sciences ijms	5.6	7.8	2000	16.8 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Pathogens pathogens	3.7	5.1	2012	16.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

Preprints is a platform dedicated to making early versions of research outputs permanently available and citable. MDPI journals allow posting on preprint servers such as Preprints.org prior to publication. For more details about reprints, please visit https://www.preprints.org.

Published Papers (4 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Journals

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

14 pages, 3471 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hypericin-Based Photodynamic Therapy Displays Higher Selectivity and Phototoxicity towards Melanoma and Squamous Cell Cancer Compared to Normal Keratinocytes In Vitro

Marta Woźniak

and

Martyna Nowak-Perlak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(23), 16897; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242316897 - 29 Nov 2023

Viewed by 205

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the potential of hypericin, a naturally occurring photosensi-tizer, for photodynamic therapy (PDT) in skin cancer, investigating its phototoxic effects and mechanisms of action in cancer cells compared to normal skin keratinocytes, squamous cell cancer (SCC-25) cells and melanoma (MUG-Mel2) cells. Hypericin was applied at concentrations ranging from 0.1–40 μM to HaCaT, SCC-25, and MUG-Mel2 cells. After 24 h of incubation, the cells were exposed to orange light at 3.6 J/cm² or 7.2 J/cm². Phototoxicity was assessed using MTT and SRB tests. Cellular uptake was measured by flow cytometry. Apoptosis-positive cells were estimated through TUNEL for apoptotic bodies’ visualization. Hypericin exhibited a higher phototoxic reaction in cancer cells compared to normal keratinocytes after irradiation. Cancer cells demonstrated increased and selective uptake of hypericin. Apoptosis was observed in SCC-25 and MUG-Mel2 cells following PDT. Our findings suggest that hypericin-based PDT is a promising and less invasive approach for treating skin cancer. The higher phototoxic reaction, selective uptake by cancer cells, and observed proapoptotic properties support the promising role of hypericin-based PDT in skin cancer treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Natural Products and Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention and Therapeutics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 4537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pllans−II: Unveiling the Action Mechanism of a Promising Chemotherapeutic Agent Targeting Cervical Cancer Cell Adhesion and Survival Pathways

Alejandro Montoya-Gómez

Fiorella Tonello

Barbara Spolaore

Maria Lina Massimino

Leonel Montealegre-Sánchez

Andrés Castillo

Nelson Rivera Franco

María José Sevilla-Sánchez

Luis Manuel Solano-Redondo

Mildrey Mosquera-Escudero

and

Eliécer Jiménez-Charris

Cells 2023, 12(23), 2715; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12232715 - 27 Nov 2023

Viewed by 351

Abstract

Despite advances in chemotherapeutic drugs used against cervical cancer, available chemotherapy treatments adversely affect the patient’s quality of life. For this reason, new molecules from natural sources with antitumor potential and few side effects are required. In previous research, Pllans−II, a phospholipase A₂ type-Asp49 from Porthidium lansbergii lansbergii snake venom, has shown selective attack against the HeLa and Ca Ski cervical cancer cell lines. This work suggests that the cytotoxic effect generated by Pllans−II on HeLa cells is triggered without affecting the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane or depolarizing the mitochondrial membranes. The results allow us to establish that cell death in HeLa is related to the junction blockage between α₅β₁ integrins and fibronectin of the extracellular matrix. Pllans−II reduces the cells’ ability of adhesion and affects survival and proliferation pathways mediated by intracellular communication with the external environment. Our findings confirmed Pllans−II as a potential prototype for developing a selective chemotherapeutic drug against cervical cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Natural Products and Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention and Therapeutics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2465 KiB

Open AccessArticle

New Copper-Based Metallodrugs with Anti-Invasive Capacity

and

Biomolecules 2023, 13(10), 1489; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom13101489 - 07 Oct 2023

Viewed by 892

Abstract

While metal-based complexes are deeply investigated as anticancer chemotherapeutic drugs, fewer studies are devoted to their anti-invasive activity. Herein, two copper (Cu)(II) tropolone derivatives, [Cu(Trop)Cl] and [Cu(Trop)Sac], both containing the N,N-chelated 4,4′-bishydroxymethyl-2,2′-bipyridne ligand, were evaluated for their anticancer and anti-invasive properties. RKO (RKO-ctr) colon cancer cells and their derivatives undergoing stable small interference (si) RNA for HIPK2 protein (RKO-siHIPK2) with acquisition of pro-invasive capacity were used. The results demonstrate that while [Cu(Trop)Sac] did not show cytotoxic activity, [Cu(Trop)Cl] induced cell death in both RKO-ctr and RKO-siHIPK2 cells, indicating that structural changes on substituting the coordinated chloride ligand with saccharine (Sac) could be a key factor in suppressing mechanisms of cellular death. On the other hand, both [Cu(Trop)Sac] and [Cu(Trop)Cl] complexes counteracted RKO-siHIPK2 cell migration in the wound healing assay. The synergic effect exerted by the concomitant presence of both tropolone and saccharin ligands in [Cu(Trop)Sac] was also supported by its significant inhibition of RKO-siHIPK2 cell migration compared to the free Sac ligand. These data suggest that the two Cu(II) tropolone derivatives are also interesting candidates to be further tested in in vivo models as an anti-invasive tumor strategy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Natural Products and Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention and Therapeutics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

36 pages, 4927 KiB

Open AccessReview

Potential Role of Natural Antioxidant Products in Oncological Diseases

Pasquale Marino

Giacomo Pepe

Manuela Giovanna Basilicata

Isabel Maria Gomez-Monterrey

Michele Manfra

and

Pietro Campiglia

Antioxidants 2023, 12(3), 704; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12030704 - 12 Mar 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2390

Abstract

Nutrition has a significant effect and a crucial role in disease prevention. Low consumption of fruit and vegetables and a sedentary lifestyle are closely related with the onset and development of many types of cancer. Recently, nutraceuticals have gained much attention in cancer research due to their pleiotropic effects and relatively non-toxic behavior. In fact, although in the past there have been conflicting results on the role of some antioxidant compounds as allies against cancer, numerous recent clinical studies highlight the efficacy of dietary phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of cancer. However, further investigation is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the potential anticancer capacities of dietary phytochemicals as well as the mechanisms of their action. Therefore, this review examined the current literature on the key properties of the bioactive components present in the diet, such as carotenoids, polyphenols, and antioxidant compounds, as well as their use in cancer therapy. The review focused on potential chemopreventive properties, evaluating their synergistic effects with anticancer drugs and, consequently, the side effects associated with current cancer treatments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Advances in Natural Products and Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention and Therapeutics)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Displaying articles 1-4

Submit your Abstract

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Antioxidants antioxidants	7.0	8.8	2012	14.4 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Biomolecules biomolecules	5.5	8.3	2011	19.2 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
Cancers cancers	5.2	7.4	2009	18.2 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Cells cells	6.0	9.0	2012	18.8 Days	CHF 2700	Submit
International Journal of Molecular Sciences ijms	5.6	7.8	2000	16.8 Days	CHF 2900	Submit
Pathogens pathogens	3.7	5.1	2012	16.4 Days	CHF 2700	Submit

Topic Menu

Topic Editors

Advances in Natural Products and Phytochemicals in Cancer Prevention and Therapeutics

Topic Information

Keywords

Participating Journals

Published Papers (4 papers)

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI