Journal Article

Biomedical Properties of a Natural Dietary Plant Metabolite, Zerumbone, in Cancer Therapy and Chemoprevention Trials

Namvar, Farideh, Rasedee, Abdullah, Rahman, Heshu Sulaiman, How, Chee Wun, Abdul, Ahmad Bustamam, Chartrand, Max Stanley, Yeap, Swee Keong, Othman, Hemn Hassan

2014

Overview

Zerumbone (ZER) is a naturally occurring dietary compound, present in many natural foods consumed today. The compound derived from several plant species of the Zingiberaceae family that has been found to possess multiple biomedical properties, such as antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. However, evidence of efficacy is sparse, pointing to the need for a more systematic review for assessing scientific evidence to support therapeutic claims made for ZER and to identify future research needs. This review provides an updated overview of in vitro and in vivo investigations of ZER, its cancer chemopreventive properties, and mechanisms of action. Therapeutic effects of ZER were found to be scientifically plausible and could be explained partially by in vivo and in vitro pharmacological activities. Much of the research outlined in this paper will serve as a foundation to explain ZER anticancer bioactivity, which will open the door for the development of strategies in the treatment of malignancies using ZER.

• Publisher: Hindawi Puplishing Corporation,Hindawi Publishing Corporation,John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subject: Analysis / Antioxidants - administration & dosage / Antioxidants - therapeutic use / Apoptosis - drug effects / Asian people / Cancer / Cancer therapies / Cell Proliferation - drug effects / Chemoprevention / Clinical trials / Diet / Hair preparations / Health aspects / Humans / Metabolites / Neoplasms - drug therapy / Neoplasms - pathology / Pharmaceutical industry / Prevention / Review / Sesquiterpenes / Sesquiterpenes - chemistry / Sesquiterpenes - therapeutic use / Veterinary medicine / Zingiberaceae / Zingiberaceae - chemistry