Identification of Cuminoids with Anticancer Activity

1447 Words3 Pages

Numerous epidemiological studies have shown that a diet high in vegetables and fruits is associated with reduced risk of most cancers [1,2]. Since ancient times, herbs and spices have been used for the treatment of various illnesses. They have been used to treat respiratory, gastrointestinal, rheumatic and inflammatory disorders. The beneficial effects of dietary phytochemicals such as curcumin (from turmeric), allicin (from garlic), and resveratrol (from grapes and peanuts) against inflammation and cancer only reinforce the importance of diet in controlling such chronic illnesses [3]. Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) is a spice, which is widely used in Asia and in the Middle East and has been used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhea, flatulence, and indigestion. An important use of cumin in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine is to control inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis [4]. In this context, it is noteworthy that cumin extracts inhibit platelet aggregation by inhibiting the eicosanoid pathway of inflammatory mediator generation [5]. In an attempt to understand the spice’s biological properties, cumin was also shown to reverse chemically induced colon carcinogenesis in experimental animals [6,7]. The observed anti-carcinogenic activity appears to be due to the induction of both phase I and II detoxifying enzymes as well as inhibition of enzymes responsible for the reactivation of detoxified carcinogens [8]. Considering that tumorigenesis is a multistep process initiated and promoted by several factors including carcinogen activation and chronic inflammation, cumin fruits offer a potential source of anticancer compounds. While extensive chromatographic separation of the essential oils derived from cumin fruit was attempted...

... middle of paper ...

... forestomach and uterine cervix tumors in murine model systems. Nutr Cancer, 47, 171-80.

9. Ishikawa, T., Takayanagi, T. and Kitajima, J. (2002) Water-soluble constituents of cumin: monoterpenoid glucosides. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo), 50, 1471-8.

10. Jalali-Heravi, M., Zekavat, B. and Sereshti, H. (2007) Use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry combined with resolution methods to characterize the essential oil components of Iranian cumin and caraway. J Chromatogr A, 1143, 215-26.

11. Takayanagi, T., Ishikawa, T. and Kitajima, J. (2003) Sesquiterpene lactone glucosides and alkyl glycosides from the fruit of cumin. Phytochemistry, 63, 479-84.

12. Li, L., Zhu, Z., Joshi, B., Porter, A.T. and Tang, D.G. (1999) A novel hydroxamic acid compound, BMD188, demonstrates anti-prostate cancer effects by inducing apoptosis. I: In vitro studies. AntiCancer Res., 19, 51-60.

Open Document