ABSTRACT
Cervical cancer is most familiar neoplasm among women worldwide. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are common treatments, however high stage tumors have frequently poor prognosis. HPV 16 and 18 are major etiological factors for cervical cancer. Likewise, epigenetics is the study of inherited changes and modulated gene expression without alteration in DNA sequences. In mammals epigenetic modifications include DNA methylation, histone modifications and miRNA. Phytochemicals are mainly contained in fruits, seeds, and vegetables as well as in foods supplements. Numerous dietary compounds exhibit potent anti-tumor activities through the reversion of epigenetic alterations associated to oncogenes activation and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes in cervical cancer cell lines SiHa and HeLa, demethylation of the tumour suppressor genes such as RARβ2, MGMT, RASSF1A, DAPK etc. Reversal of hypermethylated genes as a tumor-suppressor gene, is related to inhibition of cell proliferation, development and differentiation. The impact of phytochemicals lead to the reversal of hypermethylation which may help to cure cervical cancer. This study concludes the effect of phytochemicals on genetic and epigenetic modifications and reveals how these modifications help to prevent various types of cancers and improve health outcomes.
ABSTRACT
The present market for herbal drugs is estimated about ₹40 billion, which is expected to increase by 16% in next 3-4 years. The current production of many Ayurvedic herbs is less than their market demand, which incentivizes adulteration in the Ayurvedic drug supply chain. The present work aims to highlight the most used Ayurvedic plants that have been listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature's "red list" of endangered or vulnerable plants. The future of Ayurvedic medicines from these listed plants is uncertain, as the collection of herbs from their natural habitat is prohibited and their cultivation does not meet market demands. Many of these plants, such as Taxus baccata and T. wallichiana, are endangered and are only grown in their natural habitats; their cultivation in other areas is impractical. This is the present state, and will worsen as demand continues to grow, with increasing populations and increasing adoption of this system of medicine. It is possible that in coming years most of the Ayurvedic drugs will be adulterated, and will cause only side effects rather than the therapeutic effects. The Ayurvedic fundamentals are under-explored areas where the Ayurvedic practitioners and research scientists can work together. The scientific work on the basic principles will unravel many unknown or little-known facts of this ancient science. Hence, the present review emphasizes the conservation of Ayurvedic herbs, minimization of the use of medicinal plants and the promotion of the research based on Ayurvedic fundamentals.
ABSTRACT
An important molecular target for cancer therapy is the possible reactivation of tumor suppressor genes that have been silenced by promoter methylation. It was observed that the treatment of an adenocarcinoma cervical cancer cell line, HeLa with 20 μg/ml of the ethanolic extract of Withania somnifera for 6 days resulted in demethylation of promoter of RARβ2 gene. However, treatment with Ocimum sanctum and Azadirachta indica (20μg/ml) did not cause the reversal of hypermethylation after 6 days of treatment. This is the first report to show the reversal of hypermethylation of RARβ2 gene by Withania somnifera extract in a cervical cancer cell line.