Natural products as a source of new anticancer chemotypes

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Exploring the chemical diversity and molecular mechanisms of natural products continues to be an important research area for identifying novel promising therapeutic approaches for fighting cancer. This is a complex disease and poses important challenges, which require not only targeted interventions to improve chemotherapy efficacy and tolerability, but also adjuvant strategies to counteract chemoresistance development and relapses.

Areas covered

After a brief description of the recent literature on the anticancer potential of natural compounds, we searched for patents following the PRISMA guidelines, filtering the results published from 2019 onwards. In addition, some relevant publications from the overall scientific literature were also discussed.

Expert opinion

This review comprehensively covers and analyzes the most recent advances on the anticancer mechanism of licensed natural compounds and their chemical optimization. Patentability of natural compounds was discussed according to the recent legislation in the U.S.A. and Europe.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Cancer
• flavonoids
• chalcones
• stilbenes
• alkaloids
• lignans
• phytocannabinoids
• terpenes

Article highlights

• The current status of natural compounds and their chemical derivatives tested on human cancer cells was updated.

• Synthetic and semi-synthetic compounds were described according to their chemical classes.

• Several compounds were explored alone on in association against a large panel of cancer cell lines.

• Patentability of natural compounds can be restricted in some countries.

• Natural compounds are the starting point of drug design and development campaigns.

Declaration of interests

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Authors contributions

F.M., S.C., and N.M. searched for the literature. C.C. and M.G. filtered the search results. All the authors analyzed data. S.C., S.D.G., and A.D.S. wrote the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.