Dietary Phytochemicals as Epi-drugs: Role in Modulating the Epigenetic Mechanisms of Human Diseases
Authors/Creators
- 1. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Nawala, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
- 2. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Colombo, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka.
- 3. Anaesthesia Unit, Colombo North Teaching Hospital, Ragama, Sri Lanka.
- 4. Laboratory of Epigenetics, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Description
ABSTRACT Epigenetic therapy is emerging as a promising approach against numerous human diseases. Though, the epigenetic mechanisms are essential for normal cellular functions, the aberrant epigenetic mechanisms, such as promoter DNA methylation, histone modifications, and miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional alterations contributes to the life style related diseases. Unlike genetic modification, the epigenetic modifications are reversible and often identified in early stages of diseases. Thus, targeting aberrant epigenetic modification has gained considerable attention in diseases prevention especially in cancer therapy and diagnosis. The concept of “epi drugs” is at the forefront of drug discovery which some are either approved or under clinical trials. The global demand for safe, cost effective and readily available therapeutics has a renewed interest in plant based drug leads which allow chronic use. A wide spectrum of secondary metabolites extracted from fruits, vegetable, teas and medicinal plants are known to regulate the epigenetic mechanisms and exhibit low toxicity in chronic administration. The applicability of major phytochemical groups such as polyphenols, terpenoids, organosulfur and alkaloids as epi-drugs against cancer and other diseases are experimentally established. Hence, the present review summarizes therapeutic potential of common dietary phytochemicals and their influence on major epigenetic mechanisms associated with human diseases, mostly against cancer and emphasizes their potential application as epi-drugs.
Abstract (English)
ABSTRACT Epigenetic therapy is emerging as a promising approach against numerous human diseases. Though, the epigenetic mechanisms are essential for normal cellular functions, the aberrant epigenetic mechanisms, such as promoter DNA methylation, histone modifications, and miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional alterations contributes to the life style related diseases. Unlike genetic modification, the epigenetic modifications are reversible and often identified in early stages of diseases. Thus, targeting aberrant epigenetic modification has gained considerable attention in diseases prevention especially in cancer therapy and diagnosis. The concept of “epi drugs” is at the forefront of drug discovery which some are either approved or under clinical trials. The global demand for safe, cost effective and readily available therapeutics has a renewed interest in plant based drug leads which allow chronic use. A wide spectrum of secondary metabolites extracted from fruits, vegetable, teas and medicinal plants are known to regulate the epigenetic mechanisms and exhibit low toxicity in chronic administration. The applicability of major phytochemical groups such as polyphenols, terpenoids, organosulfur and alkaloids as epi-drugs against cancer and other diseases are experimentally established. Hence, the present review summarizes therapeutic potential of common dietary phytochemicals and their influence on major epigenetic mechanisms associated with human diseases, mostly against cancer and emphasizes their potential application as epi-drugs.
Files
IJCPR,Vol7,Issue1,Article7.pdf
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Additional details
Dates
- Accepted
-
2015-12-30