The diterpene lactone andrographolide, isolated from Andrographis paniculata, has been proven to possess several important protective biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, hypolipidemic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects. In addition, it has been reported to play a therapeutic role in the treatment of major human diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and colitis. This systematic review aims to highlight andrographolide as a promising agent in cancer treatment. To this purpose, a number of databases were used to search for the cytotoxic/anticancer effects of andrographolide in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Among 1,703 identified literature articles, 139 were included in this review; 109 were investigated as non-clinical, whereas 24, 3, and 3 were pre-clinical, clinical, and non-pre-clinical trials, respectively. Among the model systems, cultured cell lines appeared as the most frequently (79.14%) used, followed by in vivo models using rodents, among others. Furthermore, andrographolide was found to exert cytotoxic/anticancer effects on almost all types of cell lines with the underlying mechanisms involving oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest, anti-inflammatory and immune system mediated effects, apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, inhibition of cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, invasion, anti-angiogenic activity, and other miscellaneous actions. After careful consideration of the relevant evidence, we suggest that andrographolide can be one of the potential agents in the treatment of cancer in the near future.
Source: Islam MT, Ali ES, Uddin SJ, et al. Cancer Lett. 2018 Apr 28;420:129-145
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU:
Andrographis paniculata has a long history in Ayurvedic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and other medical practices in Asia. Known as “King of the Bitters” because of the herb’s astringent taste, it has proven useful for a variety of health concerns, including relief of cold and upper respiratory infections. As a supplement, you’ll often see andrographis indicated for exactly those reasons.
One of the botanical’s primary compounds is andrographolide. In scientific research, it has shown anti-inflammatory abilities, reducing COX-2 and NF-kB activity, and reducing pain as a result. Other studies point to this component of andrographis as having the potential to prevent high blood sugar, so like many highly valued herbs, it can tackle more than one problem.
This research shows that andrographolide from andrographis had extremely potent effects in virtually every cancer cell line tested. It prevented the inflammation cascade that sets DNA disruption in motion, and stopped the spread of cancer cells by not allowing them to form in blood vessels or invade and migrate to other cells.
While there will need to be more intensive research to validate these results, it may soon be prescribed as a co-treatment with conventional anticancer therapies.