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Research Progress on the Anticancer Activity of Plant Polysaccharides

Qiaoyan Liu1, Bo Song1, Sen Tong1

  • 1School of Basic Medical, Yunnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China.

Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery
|September 19, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Plant polysaccharides show significant potential as antitumor drugs due to their safety and efficacy. This review explores their direct anti-cancer effects and ability to modulate the tumor microenvironment for novel therapeutic strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology and Natural Products Chemistry
  • Oncology and Cancer Therapeutics
  • Immunology and Tumor Microenvironment

Background:

  • Tumors pose a significant global health challenge, driving the urgent need for novel and effective antitumor drugs.
  • Plant polysaccharides are recognized for diverse bioactivities, including immunomodulation, antiviral, and antioxidative properties.
  • Their established safety profile and low toxicity make them attractive candidates for cancer therapy development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review the direct antitumor effects of plant polysaccharides.
  • To elucidate the role of plant polysaccharides in regulating the tumor microenvironment.
  • To explore their potential in treating common high-incidence tumors and supporting modern cancer drug therapy.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review of studies on plant polysaccharides and their anti-cancer activities.
  • Analysis of mechanisms including inhibition of tumor cell invasion, metastasis, apoptosis induction, cell cycle regulation, and tumor microenvironment modulation.
  • Evaluation of plant polysaccharides' potential to mitigate adverse effects of conventional cancer treatments.

Main Results:

  • Plant polysaccharides demonstrate direct inhibition of tumor proliferation and growth through multiple cellular and molecular mechanisms.
  • They effectively regulate the tumor microenvironment, influencing immune responses and stromal interactions.
  • These compounds show promise in alleviating side effects associated with surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.

Conclusions:

  • Plant polysaccharides offer a promising avenue for developing novel, safe, and effective antitumor drugs.
  • Their multifaceted mechanisms of action, including direct anti-cancer effects and tumor microenvironment regulation, warrant further investigation.
  • This review provides a foundation for identifying new therapeutic targets and advancing plant polysaccharide-based cancer therapies.
Keywords:
Plant polysaccharideantineoplastic activitypharmacological properties.tumortumor microenvironmenttumor treatment

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