Phytochemicals as a Complement to Cancer Chemotherapy: Pharmacological Modulation of the Autophagy-Apoptosis Pathway

Md Ataur Rahman; Md Abdul Hannan; Raju Dash; Md Hasanur Rahman; Rokibul Islam; Md Jamal Uddin; Abdullah Al Mamun Sohag; Md Habibur Rahman; Hyewhon Rhim

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.639628

Phytochemicals as a Complement to Cancer Chemotherapy: Pharmacological Modulation of the Autophagy-Apoptosis Pathway

Front Pharmacol. 2021 May 7:12:639628. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.639628. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Md Ataur Rahman^{1

2}, Md Abdul Hannan^{3

4}, Raju Dash³, Md Hasanur Rahman^{5

6}, Rokibul Islam^{7

8}, Md Jamal Uddin^{9

6}, Abdullah Al Mamun Sohag⁴, Md Habibur Rahman¹⁰, Hyewhon Rhim^{1

11}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Neuroscience, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, South Korea.
² Global Biotechnology & Biomedical Research Network (GBBRN), Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh.
³ Department of Anatomy, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Gyeongju, South Korea.
⁴ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
⁵ Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, Bangladesh.
⁶ Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
⁷ Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh.
⁸ Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Chuncheon-si, South Korea.
⁹ ABEx Bio-Research Center, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
¹⁰ Department of Global Medical Science, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
¹¹ Division of Bio-Medical Science and Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, South Korea.

Abstract

Bioactive plant derived compounds are important for a wide range of therapeutic applications, and some display promising anticancer properties. Further evidence suggests that phytochemicals modulate autophagy and apoptosis, the two crucial cellular pathways involved in the underlying pathobiology of cancer development and regulation. Pharmacological targeting of autophagy and apoptosis signaling using phytochemicals therefore offers a promising strategy that is complementary to conventional cancer chemotherapy. In this review, we sought to highlight the molecular basis of the autophagic-apoptotic pathway to understand its implication in the pathobiology of cancer, and explore this fundamental cellular process as a druggable anticancer target. We also aimed to present recent advances and address the limitations faced in the therapeutic development of phytochemical-based anticancer drugs.

Keywords: anticancer; apoptosis; autophagy; pharmacology; phytochemicals.

Publication types

Review