Natural Macromolecules with Protective and Antitumor Activity

Title:Natural Macromolecules with Protective and Antitumor Activity

Volume: 18 Issue: 5

Author(s): Cioanca Oana, Trifan Adriana, Cornelia Mircea*, Scripcariu Dragos and Hancianu Monica

Affiliation:

• Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, P.O. Box: 700115, Iasi,Romania

Keywords: Cancer, plant lectins, mushroom, mechanism, apoptosis, receptors.

Abstract: This review summarizes the literature data regarding plant lectins as novel drug sources in the prevention or treatment of cancer. Moreover, such compounds have been described as natural toxins that possess different biological activities (cytotoxic, antitumor, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties). This activity depends greatly on their structure and affinity. Most of the mushroom heterosides are known as β-glucans with β-(1→3)-glycosidic bonds. It is thought that their conformation, bonds, molecular size can modulate the immune response by triggering different receptors. The mechanism on normal and tumor cells of various plant and mushroom polysaccharides and lectins is briefly presented in this paper.

Cite this article as:

Oana Cioanca, Adriana Trifan, Mircea Cornelia *, Dragos Scripcariu and Monica Hancianu, Natural Macromolecules with Protective and Antitumor Activity, Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry 2018; 18 (5) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1871520618666180425115029