Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Toxicological Assays for Testing Effects of an Epigenetic Drug on Development, Fecundity and Survivorship of Malaria Mosquitoes
10:26

Toxicological Assays for Testing Effects of an Epigenetic Drug on Development, Fecundity and Survivorship of Malaria Mosquitoes

Published on: January 16, 2015

Anticancer Natural Compounds as Epigenetic Modulators of Gene Expression

Edward A Ratovitski1

  • 1Head and Neck Cancer Research Division, Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.

Current Genomics
|April 4, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Natural compounds offer promising anticancer therapeutics by targeting cancer's epigenetic hallmarks. These bioactive ingredients modulate gene expression and DNA repair, advancing novel cancer treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Cancer development is characterized by genetic and epigenetic alterations.
  • Natural compounds from diverse sources are emerging as potent anticancer agents.
  • These compounds can influence epigenetic mechanisms and DNA repair pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in natural compounds targeting epigenetic regulators in cancer therapy.
  • To highlight the potential of natural compounds in modulating gene transcription for anticancer drug development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of preclinical studies on natural compounds and epigenetic targets.
  • Analysis of in vitro and in vivo data on the efficacy of natural compounds.
  • Focus on compounds affecting epigenetic regulators and gene transcription modulators.

Main Results:

  • Natural compounds demonstrate significant potential in targeting key epigenetic alterations in cancer.
  • Evidence supports the role of natural compounds in modulating gene expression and DNA repair.
  • Preclinical studies show promising results for novel anticancer therapeutics derived from natural sources.

Conclusions:

  • Natural compounds represent a promising avenue for developing novel anticancer therapeutics.
  • Targeting epigenetic regulators with natural compounds offers a new strategy for cancer treatment.
  • Further research into natural compounds could lead to significant breakthroughs in oncology.
Keywords:
ChromatinDNA methylationEpigeneticsHistone acetylationHistone methylationNatural compoundsTumorigenesismicroRNA

More Related Videos

Genome-wide Mapping of Drug-DNA Interactions in Cells with COSMIC (Crosslinking of Small Molecules to Isolate Chromatin)10:05

Genome-wide Mapping of Drug-DNA Interactions in Cells with COSMIC (Crosslinking of Small Molecules to Isolate Chromatin)

Published on: January 20, 2016

Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers10:28

Repressing Gene Transcription by Redirecting Cellular Machinery with Chemical Epigenetic Modifiers

Published on: September 20, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Epigenetic Regulation01:46

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
Mitogens and the Cell Cycle02:38

Mitogens and the Cell Cycle

Mitogens and their receptors play a crucial role in controlling the progression of the cell cycle. However, the loss of mitogenic control over cell division leads to tumor formation. Therefore, mitogens and mitogen receptors play an important role in cancer research. For instance, the epidermal growth factor (EGF) - a type of mitogen and its transmembrane receptor (EGFR), decides the fate of the cell's proliferation. When EGF binds to EGFR, a member of the ErbB family of tyrosine kinase...
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...