Advances in Anti-Inflammatory and Chemopreventive Effects of Phytochemicals

Dear Colleagues,

Phytochemicals are well-known natural compounds derived mainly from plants encompassing a variety of categories such as saponins, alkaloids, phenolics, terpenes, terpenoids, coumarins, polysaccharides, anthraquinones, unsaturated fatty acids, glycolipids, and phospholipids. Research is increasingly focused on developing anti-neoplastic therapies from these phytochemicals, including curcumin, thymol, epigallocatechin, sanguinarine, silymarin, quercetin, shikonin, resveratrol, rosmarinic acid, and many others. Most of these compounds have demonstrated biological activity, which renders them excellent candidates for the prevention and treatment of cancer. These compound targets are considered highly promising for drug development in oncology because they can target multiple carcinogenesis pathways, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis, while presenting fewer to no side-effects in comparison with conventional anticancer therapies. Furthermore, phytochemicals also exhibit potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, further contributing to tumor prevention by reducing inflammatory manifestations associated with oxidative stress damage and chronic inflammation, both recognized as risk factors for cancer.

Several investigations have found that phytonutrients may inhibit tumor growth and progression while also improving the efficacy of traditional cancer therapies like radiation treatment and chemotherapy. The ability of these compounds to influence multiple biological processes makes them useful additions to standard cancer therapy, potentially lowering cytotoxicity and increasing patient outcomes. Furthermore, phytochemicals have the benefit of being easily obtained from dietary sources, as well as from their agri-food bio-wastes that can serve as sustainable sources of such bioactives in a circular economy design, making them potential candidates for cancer preventive measures.

Moreover, consuming foods rich in phytochemicals, such as vegetables, fruit, medicinal plants, herbs, and spices, has been linked to a lower risk for numerous forms of cancer. Furthermore, the development of functional products, including functional foods, supplements, nutraceuticals, and drugs containing these compounds, highlights both the potential and challenges of integrating phytochemicals into cancer prevention and treatment. However, a major obstacle lies in the low bioavailability of many bioactive phytochemicals, as evidenced by the substantial gap between the promising in vitro outcomes and the unexpected low activities in in vivo studies. This challenge has spurred the need for advanced formulation strategies, such as encapsulation or the use of nanomaterials, to enhance the bioavailability and efficacy of phytochemical-based functional products.

Overall, research articles, reporting on promising anticancer effects of various phytochemicals, supported by in vitro and/or in vivo studies and clinical trials, are welcome for submission in our Special Issue. In addition, comprehensive and systematic reviews and meta-analysis studies within these fields are also welcome.

Dr. Anna Ofrydopoulou
Dr. Alexandros Tsoupras
Dr. Eleni Evgenidou
Guest Editors

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• inflammation
• cancer prevention
• signaling pathways
• therapeutic targets
• phytochemicals
• clinical trials
• natural bioactives
• anti-tumor
• anti-inflammatory
• antioxidant
• anti-metastatic
• anti-neoplastic
• in vitro
• in vivo
• synergistic effects
• immune system