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Anticancer Drug Discovery from Natural Compounds Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Manuele Figueiredo da Silva1, Arestides Alves Lins1, Midiane Correia Gomes1

  • 1Research Group of Biological and Molecular Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Alagoas, A.C. Simões campus, Maceió, 57072-970, Brazil.

Current Medicinal Chemistry
|October 11, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Natural compounds offer a promising strategy for cancer treatment by targeting the Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Further research into these plant-derived products could lead to novel anticancer drugs.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

  • Cancer is a complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and metastasis, posing significant treatment challenges.
  • The Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is crucial for regulating cell growth, proliferation, autophagy, and apoptosis, making it a key target for anticancer drug development.
  • Natural compounds from various plant sources have demonstrated potent anticancer properties, presenting a viable therapeutic strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review natural products that target the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway.
  • To explore the potential of these natural compounds as novel anticancer agents.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on natural products and their effects on the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR pathway.
  • Analysis of in vitro and in vivo anticancer properties of various compound classes (flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins, lignans).

Main Results:

  • Natural compounds, including flavonoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins, and lignans, exhibit significant anticancer activities.
  • These compounds effectively modulate the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway, crucial for cancer cell survival and proliferation.

Conclusions:

  • Natural products targeting the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR pathway represent a promising avenue for developing new anticancer therapies.
  • Further investigation into these compounds could yield effective and novel drugs for cancer treatment.
Keywords:
Cancer therapydrug designmolecular targetsnatural productpharmacotherapyterpenoids.

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