From Nature to Nanomedicine: Enhancing the Antitumor Efficacy of Rhein, Curcumin, and Resveratrol
Natural compounds have garnered increasing interest as potential antitumor agents due to their multifaceted biological activities and relatively low toxicity profiles. This review focuses on three well-studied natural molecules: rhein, curcumin, and resveratrol, analyzing and comparing their antitum...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/6/981 |
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| author | Ana-Maria Trofin Dragoș Viorel Scripcariu Silviu-Iulian Filipiuc Anca-Narcisa Neagu Leontina-Elena Filipiuc Bogdan-Ionel Tamba Madalina Maria Palaghia Cristina Mariana Uritu |
| author_facet | Ana-Maria Trofin Dragoș Viorel Scripcariu Silviu-Iulian Filipiuc Anca-Narcisa Neagu Leontina-Elena Filipiuc Bogdan-Ionel Tamba Madalina Maria Palaghia Cristina Mariana Uritu |
| author_sort | Ana-Maria Trofin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural compounds have garnered increasing interest as potential antitumor agents due to their multifaceted biological activities and relatively low toxicity profiles. This review focuses on three well-studied natural molecules: rhein, curcumin, and resveratrol, analyzing and comparing their antitumor potential across a variety of cancer models. For each compound, we present an integrated perspective encompassing natural sources, physicochemical properties, pharmacological and pharmacokinetic characteristics, and the latest in vitro and in vivo evidence of anticancer activity. Special attention is given to the molecular mechanisms underlying their antitumor effects, including the modulation of cell cycle regulators, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis, and regulation of key signaling pathways such as NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, STAT3, and MAPKs. Although numerous studies highlighted their therapeutic promise, significant barriers remain—particularly related to poor solubility and limited bioavailability—which have hindered clinical translation, especially in the case of rhein. Advances in nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems offer promising solutions to these limitations, enabling improved targeting and enhanced efficacy. This review underscores the need for continued preclinical and clinical investigations to fully elucidate the therapeutic value of these compounds and support their integration into modern oncological treatment strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-db53008800a849cd9388a567747b56d8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj-art-db53008800a849cd9388a567747b56d82025-08-20T03:27:34ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-05-0161698110.3390/medicina61060981From Nature to Nanomedicine: Enhancing the Antitumor Efficacy of Rhein, Curcumin, and ResveratrolAna-Maria Trofin0Dragoș Viorel Scripcariu1Silviu-Iulian Filipiuc2Anca-Narcisa Neagu3Leontina-Elena Filipiuc4Bogdan-Ionel Tamba5Madalina Maria Palaghia6Cristina Mariana Uritu7Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaAdvanced Center for Research and Development in Experimental Medicine “Prof. Ostin C. Mungiu”, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaLaboratory of Animal Histology, Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Carol I bvd, No. 20A, 700505 Iasi, RomaniaAdvanced Center for Research and Development in Experimental Medicine “Prof. Ostin C. Mungiu”, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaAdvanced Center for Research and Development in Experimental Medicine “Prof. Ostin C. Mungiu”, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaAdvanced Center for Research and Development in Experimental Medicine “Prof. Ostin C. Mungiu”, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaNatural compounds have garnered increasing interest as potential antitumor agents due to their multifaceted biological activities and relatively low toxicity profiles. This review focuses on three well-studied natural molecules: rhein, curcumin, and resveratrol, analyzing and comparing their antitumor potential across a variety of cancer models. For each compound, we present an integrated perspective encompassing natural sources, physicochemical properties, pharmacological and pharmacokinetic characteristics, and the latest in vitro and in vivo evidence of anticancer activity. Special attention is given to the molecular mechanisms underlying their antitumor effects, including the modulation of cell cycle regulators, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of metastasis and angiogenesis, and regulation of key signaling pathways such as NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, STAT3, and MAPKs. Although numerous studies highlighted their therapeutic promise, significant barriers remain—particularly related to poor solubility and limited bioavailability—which have hindered clinical translation, especially in the case of rhein. Advances in nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems offer promising solutions to these limitations, enabling improved targeting and enhanced efficacy. This review underscores the need for continued preclinical and clinical investigations to fully elucidate the therapeutic value of these compounds and support their integration into modern oncological treatment strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/6/981curcuminresveratrolrheinbioactive natural substances in cancer therapynanodelivery systems |
| spellingShingle | Ana-Maria Trofin Dragoș Viorel Scripcariu Silviu-Iulian Filipiuc Anca-Narcisa Neagu Leontina-Elena Filipiuc Bogdan-Ionel Tamba Madalina Maria Palaghia Cristina Mariana Uritu From Nature to Nanomedicine: Enhancing the Antitumor Efficacy of Rhein, Curcumin, and Resveratrol Medicina curcumin resveratrol rhein bioactive natural substances in cancer therapy nanodelivery systems |
| title | From Nature to Nanomedicine: Enhancing the Antitumor Efficacy of Rhein, Curcumin, and Resveratrol |
| title_full | From Nature to Nanomedicine: Enhancing the Antitumor Efficacy of Rhein, Curcumin, and Resveratrol |
| title_fullStr | From Nature to Nanomedicine: Enhancing the Antitumor Efficacy of Rhein, Curcumin, and Resveratrol |
| title_full_unstemmed | From Nature to Nanomedicine: Enhancing the Antitumor Efficacy of Rhein, Curcumin, and Resveratrol |
| title_short | From Nature to Nanomedicine: Enhancing the Antitumor Efficacy of Rhein, Curcumin, and Resveratrol |
| title_sort | from nature to nanomedicine enhancing the antitumor efficacy of rhein curcumin and resveratrol |
| topic | curcumin resveratrol rhein bioactive natural substances in cancer therapy nanodelivery systems |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/6/981 |
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