In parallel with a steady rise in cancer incidence worldwide, the scientific community is increasingly focused on finding novel, safer and more efficient modalities for managing this disease. Over the past decades, natural products have been described as a significant source of new structural leads for novel drug candidates. Scutellaria root is one of the most studied natural products because of its anticancer potential. Besides just describing the cytotoxic properties of plant constituents, their molecular mechanisms of action in different cancer types are equally important. Therefore, this review article focuses on the role of the Scutellaria flavones wogonin, baicalein, baicalin, scutellarein and scutellarin in regulating the autophagic machinery in diverse cancer models, highlighting these molecules as potential lead compounds for the fight against malignant neoplasms. The knowledge that autophagy can function as a dual-edged sword, acting in both a pro- and antitumorigenic manner, further complicates the issue, revealing an amazing property of flavonoids that behave either as anti- or proautophagic agents.

Harmine is a β-carboline alkaloid derived from Peganum harmala, showing a solid antitumor potential in different types of human cancer cells. Unfortunately, the clinical application of this natural alkaloid has been impeded till now by severe toxic side effects, especially neurotoxicity, besides its poor water solubility. Therefore, over the recent years, several semisynthetic derivatives of harmine have been prepared and studied concerning their abilities to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, survival, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion in diverse preclinical models. This review article summarizes the anticancer effects of harmine and its synthetic derivatives, demonstrating their high potential to be developed as novel anticancer drugs to supplement our current therapeutic arsenal in the fight against the globally increasing rate of malignant disorders.

Phenobarbital is a commonly employed antidepressant and anti-epileptic drug. The cancer promoting activity of this genotoxic xenobiotic is often ignored. It is responsible for oxidative stress leading to modulation in xenobiotic and antioxidative enzymes. Glucosinolates and more specifically their hydrolytic products are known for their antioxidative and anticancer activities. The present study involves the analysis of hepatoprotective effect of erucin (isolated from Eruca sativa (Mill.) Thell.) against phenobarbital mediated hepatic damage in male wistar rats. The liver homogenate was analyzed for oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione reductase and lactate dehydrogenase), other oxidative parameters (thiobarbituric acid reactive species, conjugated dienes and lipid hydroperoxide), phase I enzymes (NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase, cytochrome P420, cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5), phase II enzymes (γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, DT-diaphorase and glutathione-S-transferase), serum parameters (alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase, direct bilirubin and total bilirubin) and certain histological parameters. Erucin accorded protection from phenobarbital induced hepatic damage by normalizing antioxidative enzymes, other oxidative parameters, phase I, II, and serum parameters. Erucin, an analogue of sulforaphane has the potential to act as an anticancer agent by regulating various biochemical parameters.

Environmental pollutants are responsible for inducing a number of biochemical and physical changes in the various organs of an organism. The most potent pollutants is7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA) (a genotoxic carcinogen), a polyaromatic hydrocarbon. It is known to induce a number of genetic changes including the formation of DNA adducts. These genotypic changes in turn are responsible for inducing microstructural changes in the vital organs viz. kidneys, stomach and lungs of an organism. These changes in turn cause biochemical alterations in an animal and hence alter the normal functioning. Synthetic drugs provide a sigh of relief but a large number of side effects in addition to the growing resistance has made it necessary to find an efficient alternative. Plant secondary metabolites, especially glucosinolate hydrolytic products, are known for their high bioprotective activity. The current study was therefore designed to analyze the bioprotective role of erucin against DMBA-induced microstructural changes in kidneys, lungs and stomach of male Wistar rats using histological analysis. The bioprotective efficacy of erucin was evaluated in male Wistar rats against DMBA induced microstructural changes. The rats were divided into five groups where group I was untreated control, group II was DMBA treated and group III-V were treatment (DMBA + erucin) groups. Erucin was able to protect the rats against DMBA-induced histopathological changes in the lungs and stomach. No changes were observed in the kidney following treatment with DMBA or erucin. Erucin has bioprotective activity against genotoxic carcinogen.