Antiproliferative and chemopreventive potential of acacia catechu willd against multiorgan carcinoma

Abstract

Cancer or the malignancies of the cells has been considered as one of the most dreadly disease. Tissue invasiveness and metastatic spread of cancer cells are liable for most of the morbidity and mortality allied with the disease. Agents inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells by increasing apoptosis may provide a useful mechanistic approach to both cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. However, adverse effects and resistance of many of the anticancer agents are serious problems. In recent years, number of natural products has gained tremendous attention because of their ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Thus, there is sprouting interest in the use of plant based compounds to develop safe and efficient therapeutic agents for information for their possible application in cancer therapy. Flavonoids are a diverse group of low molecular weight polyphenolic compounds that are widely distributed in nature and renewed interest has been observed in recent years in the novel and multiple activities of flavonoids. Acacia catechu Willd. (Fabaceae) also known as ‘Khadira’ has been used extensively as traditional medicine in India/Asia over a long period of time. (+)-Catechin [3',4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavan-3-ol] is the most abundant polyphenolic flavonoid in the Acacia catechu heartwood.