Abstract

EXPLORING THE CYTOTOXIC POTENTIAL OF SECONDARY METABOLITES ALONGSIDE STANDARD CHEMOTHERAPEUTICS IN NSCLC CELL LINES

Mohd. Vashid Ansari*, Archana Moon, Tuba Khan and Rupal Ramteke

ABSTRACT

Cancer is a multifaceted disease with numerous causes, and conventional treatments often result in a range of side effects, creating substantial economic and clinical burdens. Over 5000 secondary metabolites have been identified in fruits, grains, and vegetables, with many yet to be discovered. The potential effectiveness of secondary metabolite combinations in cancer therapy may stem from their ability to regulate multiple signaling pathways simultaneously, promoting apoptosis, suppressing cell proliferation and invasion, sensitizing cancer cells, and enhancing immune responses. When combined with cytotoxic anti-tumor agents, secondary metabolite inhibitors could synergistically inhibit tumor growth. Although integrating conventional and complementary alternative medicine (CAM) therapies holds promise, more clinical research is necessary to refine anticancer treatments. Additionally, Investigating the molecular characteristics of newly discovered secondary metabolites throughpreclinical and epidemiological studies is essential to understanding their association with carcinogenesis biomarkers. Traditional cancer therapies face challenges such as toxicity, multidrug resistance, and high treatment costs. In contrast, the use of secondary metabolites in CAM has garnered increasing attention due to their ability to influence numerous molecular processes with less toxicity. Emerging evidence of both preclinical and clinical studies suggest that secondary metabolites likely regulate many key pathways involved in the cancer initiation and progression. Their combinatorial effect can induce apoptosis, prevent proliferation, and invasion, sensitize cancer cells, and stimulate immune responses, making them promising substitute in cancer treatment. While basic and preclinical research on secondary metabolites in cancer is extensive, clinical trials using CAM in cancer therapy remain limited. This review highlights the findings from preclinical and clinical studies, focusing on the individual and combined use of secondary metabolites, and explores their potential role in integrating CAM into mainstream healthcare.

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