Skip to main content

Anticancer Plant Molecules for the Improvement of Immune System

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Anticancer plants: Properties and Application

Abstract

In the past few years, small bioactive molecules of plant origin have become the centre of elevated curiosity among the drug designers. Drug developers are focused for understanding the mechanisms of action and potential role of plant metabolites in the prevention and treatment of multiple diseases including cancer. There are large groups of secondary plant metabolites, which provide numerous potentially health-beneficial biological activities through our diet. In addition to health benefits, many other biological functions are reported in the literature for plant molecules as inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and stimulation of immune function. Many of the structurally diverse plant metabolites stimulate immune cell activity and have great potential as diet-derived immune-modulator chemopreventive agents. They may even serve as lead structures for the development of novel/upgraded drugs for the treatment of both malignant and viral diseases. This chapter has been organised to present extensive description about plants as well as their potential molecules, which are majorly notified for the anticancer activity as well as improvement of immune system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agrawal J, Pal A (2013) Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Linn-a critical ethnopharmacological review. J Ethnopharmacol 146:645–658

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amirghofran Z, Malek-hosseini S, Gholmoghaddam H, Kalalinia F (2011) Inhibition of tumor cells growth and stimulation of lymphocytes by Euphorbia species. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 33:34–42

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Arreola R, Quintero-Fabian S, Lopez-Roa RI, Flores-Gutierrez EO, Reyes-Grajeda JP, Carrera-Quintanar L, Ortuño-Sahagún D (2015) Immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory effects of garlic compounds. J Immunol Res 2015:401630. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/401630

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ayeka PA, Bian Y, Mwitari PG, Chu X, Zhang Y, Uzayisenga R, Otachi EO (2016) Immunomodulatory and anticancer potential of Gan cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.) polysaccharides by CT-26 colon carcinoma cell growth inhibition and cytokine IL-7 upregulation in vitro. BMC Compl Altern Med 16:206. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1171-4

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bala M, Pratap K, Verma PK, Singh B, Padwad Y (2015) Validation of ethnomedicinal potential of Tinospora cordifolia for anticancer and immunomodulatory activities and quantification of bioactive molecules by HPTLC. J Ethnopharmacol 175:131–137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.08.001

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baraya YU, Wong KK, Yaacob NS (2017) The immunomodulatory potential of selected bioactive plant-based compounds in breast cancer: a review. Anti Cancer Agents Med Chem 17:770–783

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bharati AC, Sahu AN (2012) Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Biophytum sensitivum DC. Pharmacol Rev 6:68–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bronikowska J, Szliszka E, Jaworska D, Czuba ZP, Krol W (2012) The coumarin psoralidin enhances anticancer effect of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Molecules 17:6449–6464

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Burkard M, Leischner C, Lauer UM, Busch C, Venturelli S, Frank J (2017) Dietary flavonoids and modulation of natural killer cells: implications in malignant and viral diseases. J Nutr Biochem 46:1–12

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chang R (2002) Bioactive polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicine herbs as anticancer adjuvants. J Altern Compl Med 8:559–565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Tang YM, Yu SL, Han YW, Kou JP, Liu BL, Yu BY (2015) Advances in the pharmacological activities and mechanisms of diosgenin. Chin J Nat Med 13:578–587

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chhatre S, Nesari T, Somani G, Kanchan D, Sathaye S (2014) Phytopharmacological overview of Tribulus terrestris. Pharmacol Rev 8:45–51

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Costa G, Rocca R, Moraca F, Talarico C, Romeo I, Ortuso F, Alcaro S, Artese A (2016) A comparative docking strategy to identify polyphenolic derivatives as promising antineoplastic binders of G-quadruplex DNA c-myc and bcl-2 sequences. Mol Inform 35:391–402

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dai X, Liu J, Nian Y, Qiu MH, Luo Y, Zhang J (2017) A novel cycloartane triterpenoid from Cimicifuga induces apoptotic and autophagic cell death in human colon cancer HT-29 cells. Oncol Rep 37:2079–2086

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dijsselbloem N, Vanden Berghe W, De Naeyer A, Haegeman G (2004) Soy isoflavone phyto-pharmaceuticals in interleukin-6 affections. Multi-purpose nutraceuticals at the crossroad of hormone replacement, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory therapy. Biochem Pharmacol 68:1171–1185

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fantini M, Benvenuto M, Masuelli L, Frajese GV, Tresoldi I, Modesti A, Bei R (2015) In vitro and in vivo antitumoral effects of combinations of polyphenols, or polyphenols and anticancer drugs: perspectives on cancer treatment. Int J Mol Sci 16:9236–9282

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Galili U, Anaraki F (1995) Alpha-galactosyl (Galalpha1-3Galbeta1-4GlcNAc-R) epitopes on human cells: synthesis of the epitope on human red cells by recombinant primate alpha1,3 galactosyltransferase expressed in E. coli. Glycobiology 5:775–782

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Georgaki S, Skopeliti M, Tsiatas M, Nicolaou KA, Ioannou K, Husband A, Bamias A, Dimopoulos MA, Constantinou AI, Tsitsilonis OE (2009) Phenoxodiol, an anticancer isoflavene, induces immunomodulatory effects in vitro and in vivo. J Cell Mol Med 13:3929–3938

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Gold-Smith F, Fernandez A, Bishop K (2016) Mangiferin and cancer: mechanisms of action. Forum Nutr 8:E396. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8070396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gostner JM, Schroecksnadel S, Jenny M, Klein A, Ueberall F, Schennach H, Fuchs D (2015) Coffee extracts suppress tryptophan breakdown in mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. J Am Coll Nutr 34:212–223

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grover A, Shandilya A, Punetha A, Bisaria VS, Sundar D (2010) Inhibition of the NEMO/IKKbeta association complex formation, a novel mechanism associated with the NF-kappaB activation suppression by Withania somnifera’s key metabolite withaferin A. BMC Genomics 11:S25. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-11-S4-S25

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hao DC, Gu X, Xiao P (2017) Anemone medicinal plants: ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and biology. Acta Pharm Sin B 7:146–158

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez-Ledesma B, Hsieh CC (2017) Chemopreventive role of food-derived proteins and peptides: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 57:2358–2376

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kokotkiewicz A, Jaremicz Z, Luczkiewicz M (2010) Aronia plants: a review of traditional use, biological activities, and perspectives for modern medicine. J Med Food 13:255–269

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lai X, Pei Q, Song X, Zhou X, Yin Z, Jia R, Zou Y, Li L, Yue G, Liang X, Yin L, Lv C, Jing B (2016) The enhancement of immune function and activation of NF-kappaB by resveratrol-treatment in immunosuppressive mice. Int Immunopharmacol 33:42–47

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Y, Hu Y, Shi S, Jiang L (2014) Evaluation of antioxidant and immuno-enhancing activities of purslane polysaccharides in gastric cancer rats. Int J Biol Macromol 68:113–116

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Limtrakul P, Yodkeeree S, Pitchakarn P, Punfa W (2015) Suppression of inflammatory responses by black rice extract in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells via down regulation of NF-kB and AP-1 signaling pathways. Asian Pac J Can Prevent 16:4277–4283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu CC, Yang H, Zhang LL, Zhang Q, Chen B, Wang Y (2014) Biotoxins for cancer therapy. Asian Pac J Can Prevent 15:4753–4758

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mace TA, King SA, Ameen Z, Elnaggar O, Young G, Riedl KM, Schwartz SJ, Clinton SK, Knobloch TJ, Weghorst CM, Lesinski GB (2014) Bioactive compounds or metabolites from black raspberries modulate T lymphocyte proliferation, myeloid cell differentiation and Jak/STAT signaling. Cancer Immunol Immunother 63:889–900

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mantle D, Lennard TW, Pickering AT (2000) Therapeutic applications of medicinal plants in the treatment of breast cancer: a review of their pharmacology, efficacy and tolerability. Adverse Drug React Toxicol Rev 19:223–240

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Medrano G, Dolan MC, Stephens NT, McMickle A, Erf G, Radin D, Cramer CL (2010) Efficient plant-based production of chicken interleukin-12 yields a strong immunostimulatory cytokine. J Interf Cytokine Res 30:143–154

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meeran SM, Katiyar S, Elmets CA, Katiyar SK (2006) Silymarin inhibits UV radiation-induced immunosuppression through augmentation of interleukin-12 in mice. Mol Cancer Therap 5:1660–1668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miles SL, McFarland M, Niles RM (2014) Molecular and physiological actions of quercetin: need for clinical trials to assess its benefits in human disease. Nutr Rev 72:720–734

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Multhoff G, Radons J (2012) Radiation, inflammation, and immune responses in cancer. Front Oncol 2:58. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2012.00058

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Naik R, Harmalkar DS, Xu X, Jang K, Lee K (2015) Bioactive benzofuran derivatives: moracins A-Z in medicinal chemistry. Eur J Med Chem 90:379–393

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ng TB, Liu J, Wong JH, Ye X, Wing Sze SC, Tong Y, Zhang KY (2012) Review of research on Dendrobium, a prized folk medicine. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 93:1795–1803

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nowicky JW, Staniszewski A, Zbroja-Sontag W, Slesak B, Nowicky W, Hiesmayr W (1991) Evaluation of thiophosphoric acid alkaloid derivatives from Chelidonium majus L. (“Ukrain”) as an immunostimulant in patients with various carcinomas. Drugs Exp Clin Res 17:139–143

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nunez Selles AJ, Daglia M, Rastrelli L (2016) The potential role of mangiferin in cancer treatment through its immunomodulatory, anti-angiogenic, apoptopic, and gene regulatory effects. Biofactors 42:475–491

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Panthong S, Ruangnoo S, Thongdeeying P, Sriwanthana B, Itharat A (2014) Immunomodulatory activity of Dioscorea membranacea Pierre rhizomes and of its main active constituent Dioscorealide B. BMC Compl Alternat Med 14:403

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pardo Andreu GL, Maurmann N, Reolon GK, de Farias CB, Schwartsmann G, Delgado R, Roesler R (2010) Mangiferin, a naturally occurring glucoxilxanthone improves long-term object recognition memory in rats. Eur J Pharmacol 635:124–128

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patil KS, Bhalsing SR (2016) Ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of the genus Boerhavia. J Ethnopharmacol 182:200–220

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Patil D, Gautam M, Gairola S, Jadhav S, Patwardhan B (2014) HPLC/tandem mass spectrometric studies on steroidal saponins: an example of quantitative determination of Shatavarin IV from dietary supplements containing Asparagus racemosus. J AOAC Intl 97:1497–1502

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perentesis JP, Miller SP, Bodley JW (1992) Protein toxin inhibitors of protein synthesis. Biofactors 3:173–184

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petrovsky N, Cooper PD (2015) Advax, a novel microcrystalline polysaccharide particle engineered from delta inulin, provides robust adjuvant potency together with tolerability and safety. Vaccine 33:5920–5926

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Piotrowski J, Jedrzejewski T, Kozak W (2015) Immunomodulatory and antitumor properties of polysaccharide peptide (PSP). Post Hig Med Doswiad 69:91–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pribis P, Shukitt-Hale B (2014) Cognition: the new frontier for nuts and berries. Am J Clin Nutr 1001:S347–S352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rastogi S, Pandey MM, Kumar Singh Rawat A (2015) Medicinal plants of the genus Betula-traditional uses and a phytochemical-pharmacological review. J Ethnopharmacol 159:62–83

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rasul A, Zhao BJ, Liu J, Liu B, Sun JX, Li J, Li XM (2014) Molecular mechanisms of casticin action: an update on its antitumor functions. Asian Pac J Can Prevent 15:9049–9058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ravindranath MH, Muthugounder S, Presser N, Viswanathan S (2004) Anticancer therapeutic potential of soy isoflavone, genistein. Adv Exp Med Biol 546:121–165

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Razali FN, Sinniah SK, Hussin H, Zainal Abidin N, Shuib AS (2016) Tumor suppression effect of Solanum nigrum polysaccharide fraction on breast cancer via immunomodulation. Int J Biol Macromol 92:185–193

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reina E, Al-Shibani N, Allam E, Gregson KS, Kowolik M, Windsor LJ (2013) The effects of Plantago major on the activation of the neutrophil respiratory burst. J Trad Compl Med 3:268–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saha S, Sadhukhan P, Sil PC (2016) Mangiferin: a xanthonoid with multipotent anti-inflammatory potential. Biofactors 42:459–474

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Semwal DK, Semwal RB, Vermaak I, Viljoen A (2014) From arrow poison to herbal medicine-the ethnobotanical, phytochemical and pharmacological significance of Cissampelos (Menispermaceae). J Ethnopharmacol 155:1011–1028

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shareef M, Ashraf MA, Sarfraz M (2016) Natural cures for breast cancer treatment. Saudi Pharma J 24:233–3403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma H, Garg M (2015) A review of traditional use, phytoconstituents and biological activities of Himalayan yew, Taxus wallichiana. J Integr Med 13:80–90

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shen CY, Yang L, Jiang JG, Zheng CY, Zhu W (2017) Immune enhancement effects and extraction optimization of polysaccharides from Citrus aurantium L. var. amara. Eng Food Function 8:796–807

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Singh S, Awasthi M, Pandey VP, Dwivedi UN (2017) Lipoxygenase directed anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous secondary metabolites: ADMET-based screening, molecular docking and dynamics simulation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 35:657–668

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siveen KS, Kuttan G (2012) Modulation of humoral immune responses and inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide production by 10-methoxycanthin-6-one. Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol 34:116–125

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suman S, Shukla Y (2016) Diallyl sulfide and its role in chronic diseases prevention. Adv Exp Med Biol 929:127–144

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szliszka E, Czuba ZP, Sedek L, Paradysz A, Krol W (2011) Enhanced TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in prostate cancer cells by the bioactive compounds neobavaisoflavone and psoralidin isolated from Psoralea corylifolia. Pharmacol Rep 63:139–148

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varma A, Padh H, Shrivastava N (2011) Andrographolide: a new plant-derived antineoplastic entity on horizon. Evidence-Based Compl Altern Med 2011:815390. https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/nep135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viswanathan V, Phadatare AG, Mukne A (2014) Antimycobacterial and antibacterial activity of Allium sativum bulbs. Indian J Pharm Sci 76:256–261

    PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoo K, Porter JR (1993) Immunoassay of podophyllotoxin. J Nat Prod 56:715–721

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • You Guo C, Zong Ji S, Xiao Ping C (2009) Evaluation of free radicals scavenging and immunity-modulatory activities of purslane polysaccharides. Int J Biol Macromol 45:448–452

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZR, Leung WN, Cheung HY, Chan CW (2015) Osthole: a review on its bioactivities, pharmacological properties, and potential as alternative medicine. Evidence-Based Compl Altern Med 2015:919616. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/919616

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zou TB, Xia EQ, He TP, Huang MY, Jia Q, Li HW (2014) Ultrasound-assisted extraction of Mangiferin from mango (Mangifera indica L.) leaves using response surface methodology. Molecules 19:1411–1421

    Article  PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Prakash, O., Maurya, P.P., Ajeet (2018). Anticancer Plant Molecules for the Improvement of Immune System. In: Akhtar, M., Swamy, M. (eds) Anticancer plants: Properties and Application. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8548-2_6

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics