Therapeutic Potential of Natural Extracts in Cancer Prevention and Treatment

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2025 | Viewed by 587

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Laboratory "Genome Dynamics and Stability", Institute of Plant Physiology and Genetics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Interests: anticancer activity of medicinal and aromatic plants; molecular mechanisms of antitumor action; oncogenetics; nutrigenomics; nanotechnology therapeutic approaches

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer represents the second leading cause of mortality worldwide despite the extensive efforts and resources directed to combating this disease. Among the major disadvantages of conventional chemotherapy are the severe side effects that could occur as a result of the treatment and development of cancer cells' multidrug resistance. Numerous natural-derived substances are objects of increased scientific interest in searching for novel promising candidates for the development of oncotherapeutics with higher efficiency and lower toxicity for normal cells. Cancer chemoprevention by natural products is a prominent approach for the reduction in cancer morbidity rate via suppression or reversion of tumorigenesis.

The present Special Issue, entitled “Therapeutic Potential of Natural Extracts in Cancer Prevention and Treatment”, focuses on the most recent data on the mechanisms and molecular targets of the anticancer action of extracts from natural sources, alone or in combination, in finding prospective agents for prevention and therapy of neoplasias. We are pleased to invite authors to submit original research papers or review articles for consideration and publication in the Special Issue. Manuscripts related to tolaboratory research on in vitro and in vivo model systems or clinical trials evaluating the anticancer potential of nature-derived extracts are welcome. The knowledge gained from such studies can significantly contribute to  improving life quality and cancer treatment outcomes.

Dr. Zlatina Gospodinova
Prof. Dr. Michael Danilenko
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • natural products
  • anticancer therapeutic potential
  • cancer chemoprevention
  • mechanism of action and molecular targets
  • preclinical and clinical studies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 4190 KB  
Article
Nasal Administration of Durvillaea antarctica Fucoidan Inhibits Lung Cancer Growth in Mice Through Immune Activation
by Hee Sung Kim, Peter C. W. Lee and Jun-O Jin
Pharmaceuticals 2025, 18(9), 1354; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18091354 - 9 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Background: Various studies have demonstrated fucoidan’s immunomodulatory effects. A previous study reported the anticancer effects of Durvillaea antarctica fucoidan (DAF) via immune activation in mice. Methods: In this study, we confirmed the DAF’s pulmonary immune activation ability by nasal administration of the dendritic [...] Read more.
Background: Various studies have demonstrated fucoidan’s immunomodulatory effects. A previous study reported the anticancer effects of Durvillaea antarctica fucoidan (DAF) via immune activation in mice. Methods: In this study, we confirmed the DAF’s pulmonary immune activation ability by nasal administration of the dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells. Furthermore, we examined its ability to enhance the efficacy of lung cancer treatment by combining it with anti-PD-L1 antibodies to activate the lung immune response. Results: Nasal DAF administration increased C-C chemokine receptor type 7 expression in DCs and promoted DC migration to the mediastinal lymph nodes (mLN). Specifically, DAF increased conventional DC type 1 (cDC1) and cDC2 numbers in mLN and potently activated cDC1. Furthermore, the nasal administration of DAF increased the production of inflammatory cytokines in the lungs and peripheral blood. Repeated intranasal administration of DAF induced T-cell activation, resulting in the enhanced production of interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in CD4 T and CD8 T cells. CD8 T cells also showed increased secretion of cytotoxic mediators after DAF treatment, and the proportion of Tregs expressing FoxP3 decreased in the mLN. DAF inhibited lung cancer growth in Lewis lung carcinoma 2 cells, which was enhanced by combining it with an anti-programmed death-ligand 1 antibody. Finally, the anticancer effects of DAF were not observed in mice with depleted CD4-positive and CD8-positive cells. Conclusions: Nasal administration of DAF may inhibit lung cancer growth by inducing lung immune activation and is expected to be helpful as an immune activator for nasal administration. Full article
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