Phytochemical Applications in Inflammation and Oncology
Summary
Phytochemicals, the bioactive compounds derived from plants, have emerged as versatile modulators of inflammatory pathways and cancer biology. Polyphenols, flavonoids and terpenoids are among the most studied classes, exhibiting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties. In inflammation, these compounds can down-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokines, inhibit transcription factors such as NF-κB and MAPK, and activate nuclear receptors including PPARγ. In oncology, they may induce apoptosis, cause cell cycle arrest, inhibit angiogenesis and suppress metastasis through modulation of kinases, epigenetic regulators and cell-adhesion molecules. Rosmarinic acid, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate and resveratrol exemplify phytochemicals that bridge both fields, with applications ranging from acute lung injury and arthritis models to colorectal, prostate and breast cancer cells. Challenges such as poor bioavailability, standardisation of extracts and potential off-target effects continue to drive innovations in formulation, conjugation and delivery systems. Globally, the integration of phytochemicals into adjuvant therapies offers a complementary strategy that harnesses traditional botanical knowledge alongside modern drug discovery.
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Phytochemical Applications in Inflammation and Oncology publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in phytochemical applications in inflammation and oncology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Polyphenol: A class of plant secondary metabolites characterised by multiple phenol units, often endowed with antioxidant and signalling modulatory activities.
NF-κB: A transcription factor complex that regulates genes involved in immune responses, cell survival and proliferation.
AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase, a cellular energy sensor that modulates metabolism and can inhibit tumour cell growth when activated.
PPARγ: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, a nuclear receptor that controls lipid metabolism and exerts anti-inflammatory effects.
Apoptosis: Programmed cell death mechanism characterised by caspase activation, DNA fragmentation and membrane blebbing, essential for tissue homeostasis and cancer therapy.
References
- Rosmarinic Acid Activates AMPK to Inhibit Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2018).
- Rosmarinic Acid, a Component of Rosemary Tea, Induced the Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis through Modulation of HDAC2 Expression in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines. Nutrients (2018).
- Effects of a Natural Prolyl Oligopeptidase Inhibitor, Rosmarinic Acid, on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice. Molecules (2012).
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