Onkologie. 2013:7(1):47-50

Natural compounds and their anticancer potential

Pavel Klener¹, Pavel Klener jr.^1,2

¹ 1. interní klinika VFN a 1. LF UK v Praze

² Ústav patologické fyziologie 1. LF UK v Praha

Plant derived compounds have been an important source of many clinically useful anti-cancer agents. These include drugs acting as

conventional cytostatics, such as microtubule modifiers (vincristin, vinblastin, taxanes), or topoisomerase inhibitors, such as epipodophyllotoxin

and camptothecin derivatives (etoposid, irinotecan). From plant or marine organisms derived also drugs against cancer-related

molecular targets (flavopiridol, combrestatin etc.), which are under clinical or preclinical development. Numerous phytochemicals

derived from edible plants have been reported to interfere with a specific stage of the carcinogenic process. These chemopreventive

phytochemicals are shortly reviewed.

Keywords: vinca alkaloids, epipodophyllotoxins, camptothecins, cell cycle specific inhibitors, chemopreventive substances

Published: February 1, 2013  Show citation