Cancer chemoprevention approaches

Abstract

Chemopreventive agents exhibit antioxidative and antiproliferative activities, signal transduction pathways, cell cycle, etc., and affect the process of carcinogenesis and modulate enzyme activity. They inhibit carcinogenesis at initiation phase or at promotion/progression stage. Chemoprotective components can be nutrients like, resistant starch, non-starch polysaccharides, oligosaccharides, folates, selenium, curcumin, zinc, or nonnutritive bioactive constituents such as protease inhibitors, saponins, phytosterols, lectins and phytates. These natural products have a low toxicity, affect NF κ B activity, stimulate immune cell activity and inhibit IKK activity.