ISHS Acta Horticulturae 841: II International Symposium on Human Health Effects of Fruits and Vegetables: FAVHEALTH 2007
TARGETING INFLAMMATORY PATHWAYS FOR CHRONIC DISEASES BY PHYTOCHEMICALS DERIVED FROM SPICES, FRUITS, VEGETABLES, AND TRADITIONAL REMEDIES |
| Author: | B.B. Aggarwal |
| Keywords: | chronic diseases, cancer, mediators of inflammation, antiapoptotic proteins |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2009.841.1 |
| Abstract:
Traditional medicine (TM) is a highly fertile ground for the source of modern medicines. Cancer is one of the chronic diseases that is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and around the world. Several therapeutic agents to treat cancer are available in Western medicine; however, they are toxic, expensive and inefficient (Garodia et al., 2007). Thus, agents, which are safe, affordable and effective, are urgently needed. TM provides an ideal source for novel drugs to prevent and treat inflammatory diseases (Ichikawa et al., 2007). What is there in the plants used in TM that could suppress chronic diseases mediated through inflammation is the subject of intense research and was recently reviewed (Aggarwal et al., 2006a, 2008). Inflammation causes many chronic diseases including cancer. Most cancers, especially solid tumors, are preceded by inflammation of a given organ. For example, bronchitis, colitis, cervicitis, gastritis, and hepatitis indicate inflammation of the bronchus, colon, cervix, stomach, and liver, respectively. People with bronchitis are 15-20% more likely to develop lung cancer (Anand et al., 2008a, b). Similarly, people who have colitis are at high risk to develop colon cancer. Thus, suppression of inflammation can be exploited as a target to prevent cancer and other diseases. Extensive research within the last decade has revealed that phytochemicals, which are derived from traditional remedies, can suppress the inflammatory pathways that initiate carcinogenesis. Because these phytochemicals are derived from TM, they are considered pharmacologically safe. What are the molecular targets of these phytochemicals and how they are linked to cancer is discussed in this review. Although most targets discussed are in the context of cancer, they are also relevant for other chronic diseases. | |
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