Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents
Cucurbitacins are tetracyclic triterpenoid secondary metabolites, widely distributed in the <i>Cucurbitaceae</i> family. These bitter-tasting compounds act primarily as defense mechanisms against external injuries, and thus against herbivores, and furthermore, they have also found use in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Metabolites |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/10/1081 |
| _version_ | 1827720479675252736 |
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| author | Bartłomiej Zieniuk Magdalena Pawełkowicz |
| author_facet | Bartłomiej Zieniuk Magdalena Pawełkowicz |
| author_sort | Bartłomiej Zieniuk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cucurbitacins are tetracyclic triterpenoid secondary metabolites, widely distributed in the <i>Cucurbitaceae</i> family. These bitter-tasting compounds act primarily as defense mechanisms against external injuries, and thus against herbivores, and furthermore, they have also found use in folk medicine in the treatment of various diseases. Many studies have acknowledged significant biological activities of cucurbitacins, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, antimicrobial properties, or antitumor potential. Overall, cucurbitacins have the ability to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. Both in vitro and in vivo studies were performed to evaluate the anticancer activity of varied cucurbitacins. Cucurbitacins offer a promising avenue for future cancer treatment strategies, and their diverse mechanisms of action make them attractive candidates for further investigation. The aim of the present study is to shed light on the chemical diversity of this group of compounds by providing the sources of origin of selected compounds and their chemical structure, as well as insight into their anticancer potential. In addition, within this paper molecular targets for cucurbitacins and signalling pathways important for cancer cell proliferation and/or survival that are affected by the described class of compounds have been presented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:03:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ba6e7e801e354bad9c23edaec6b791f6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-1989 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:03:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Metabolites |
| spelling | doaj.art-ba6e7e801e354bad9c23edaec6b791f62023-11-19T17:20:13ZengMDPI AGMetabolites2218-19892023-10-011310108110.3390/metabo13101081Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer AgentsBartłomiej Zieniuk0Magdalena Pawełkowicz1Department of Chemistry, Institute of Food Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, PolandCucurbitacins are tetracyclic triterpenoid secondary metabolites, widely distributed in the <i>Cucurbitaceae</i> family. These bitter-tasting compounds act primarily as defense mechanisms against external injuries, and thus against herbivores, and furthermore, they have also found use in folk medicine in the treatment of various diseases. Many studies have acknowledged significant biological activities of cucurbitacins, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, antimicrobial properties, or antitumor potential. Overall, cucurbitacins have the ability to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. Both in vitro and in vivo studies were performed to evaluate the anticancer activity of varied cucurbitacins. Cucurbitacins offer a promising avenue for future cancer treatment strategies, and their diverse mechanisms of action make them attractive candidates for further investigation. The aim of the present study is to shed light on the chemical diversity of this group of compounds by providing the sources of origin of selected compounds and their chemical structure, as well as insight into their anticancer potential. In addition, within this paper molecular targets for cucurbitacins and signalling pathways important for cancer cell proliferation and/or survival that are affected by the described class of compounds have been presented.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/10/1081cucurbitacinanticancer mechanismsmolecular targetsmechanism of actionbiological activity |
| spellingShingle | Bartłomiej Zieniuk Magdalena Pawełkowicz Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents Metabolites cucurbitacin anticancer mechanisms molecular targets mechanism of action biological activity |
| title | Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents |
| title_full | Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents |
| title_fullStr | Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents |
| title_full_unstemmed | Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents |
| title_short | Recent Advances in the Application of Cucurbitacins as Anticancer Agents |
| title_sort | recent advances in the application of cucurbitacins as anticancer agents |
| topic | cucurbitacin anticancer mechanisms molecular targets mechanism of action biological activity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/10/1081 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bartłomiejzieniuk recentadvancesintheapplicationofcucurbitacinsasanticanceragents AT magdalenapawełkowicz recentadvancesintheapplicationofcucurbitacinsasanticanceragents |