Tripathi AH, Negi N, Gahtori R, Kumari A, Joshi P, Tewari LM, Joshi Y, Bajpai R, Upreti DK, Upadhyay SK. A Review of Anti-Cancer and Related Properties of Lichen-Extracts and Metabolites.
Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021;
22:115-142. [PMID:
34225637 DOI:
10.2174/1871520621666210322094647]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Lichens are a composite consortium of fungus and alga. The symbiotic organisms are naturally equipped with distinct characteristics as compared to constituting organisms separately. Lichens due to their peculiar anatomy and physiology, are the reservoir of more than 600 unique secondary metabolites, also known as 'lichen substances'. Since ancient times, many ethnic groups from various parts of the world had knowledge about the applications of lichens as major provenance of food/fodder, medicine, dyes, spices, perfumes, etc. Lichen substances have shown impressive antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory activities under experimental conditions. Usnic acid, a well-known metabolite, found in several species of lichens, possesses potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. It also has significant anti-proliferative potential as revealed through testing in different cancer cell lines. Atranorin, Lecanoric acid, Norstictic acid, Lobaric acid, Stictic acid, Ramalin, Gyrophoric acid, Salazinic acid, Protolichesterinic, and Fumarprotocetraric acid are some of the other purified lichen metabolites with potent anti-cancer activities.
OBJECTIVE
This study presents an overview of lichen derived extracts/compounds augmenting the anti-cancer (related) properties.
METHOD
The review comprehends different studies (in vivo and in vitro) backing up the possibility of lichen extracts and metabolites towards their use as antioxidant, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and EMT-inhibiting agents.
RESULTS
The review focuses on anti-cancer and related properties of lichen extracts and metabolites that include their anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic, cancer stemness reduction, activities and, the potential of inhibition of cancer-associated Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that is responsible for multiple drug-resistance and metastasis of cancer cells in a large proportion of cases.
CONCLUSION
Lichens can be the repertoire of a plethora of lichen metabolites with putative bioactive potential, which is needed to be explored in order to find out novel anti-cancer drugs.
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