Medicinal plants of the genuses Salvia and Hypericum are sources of anticolon cancer compounds: Effects on PI3K/Akt and MAP kinases pathways

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide and the incidence is highly influenced by diet. Epidemiological studies have supported the idea that some medicinal plants may influence the risk of CRC through modulation of several biological processes, including proliferation, survival and cell death. The PI3K/Akt and MAP Kinases pathways are frequently constitutively activated in CRC and components of these pathways are important molecular targets for CRC treatment. This review describes the effects of Mediterranean species of medicinal plants of the genuses Salvia and Hypericum and some of their main phytochemical constituents (quercetin, luteolin, rosmarinic acid and ursolic acid) in their ability to control CRC progression by modulating molecular targets of the PI3K/Akt and MAP Kinases signaling pathways. These plants and their bioactive constituents have been shown by our group and by several others to have the ability to control CRC progression. The significance of the effects strongly suggests the applicability of these plants' extracts or individual constituents in cancer therapy as well as in functional foods or nutraceuticals.