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Natural Products to Fight Cancer: A Focus on Juglans regia


Author(s): Catanzaro E et al.
J / D / DOI: Toxins (Basel) / 14-11-2018 / 10.3390/toxins10110469

More study details

  • Study population (Humans, Human cell cultures, Animal cell cultures)
  • Study type (review)
  • Study method (in vitro, in vivo)

Major areas of study (META): In vitro studies show that compounds in walnut have antitumor potential. However, the scarcity of studies on humans does not allow results to be conclusive.


Abstract

Even if cancer represents a burden for human society, an exhaustive cure has not been discovered yet. Low therapeutic index and resistance to pharmacotherapy are two of the major limits of antitumour treatments. Natural products represent an excellent library of bioactive molecules. Thus, tapping into the natural world may prove useful in identifying new therapeutic options with favourable pharmaco-toxicological profiles. Juglans regia, or common walnut, is a very resilient tree that has inhabited our planet for thousands of years. Many studies correlate walnut consumption to beneficial effects towards several chronic diseases, such as cancer, mainly due to the bioactive molecules stored in different parts of the plant. Among others, polyphenols, quinones, proteins, and essential fatty acids contribute to its pharmacologic activity. The present review aims to offer a comprehensive perspective about the antitumour potential of the most promising compounds stored in this plant, such as juglanin, juglone, and the ellagitannin-metabolites urolithins or deriving from walnut dietary intake. All molecules and a chronic intake of the fruit provide tangible anticancer effects. However, the scarcity of studies on humans does not allow results to be conclusive.


Cite as (Vancouver style)

Catanzaro E, Greco G, Potenza L, Calcabrini C, Fimognari C. Natural Products to Fight Cancer: A Focus on Juglans regia. Toxins (Basel). 2018 11 14;10(11):.

Created by: Shahla Tapak |

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