Therapeutic potential of medicinal plants indicated by the Brazilian public health system in treating the collateral effects induced by chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and chemoradiotherapy: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: This study, through a systematic review, evaluated the therapeutic effect of medicinal plants that were of interest to the Unified Health System (SUS) in treating the side effects induced by chemotherapy, radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy in cancer patients. METHODOLOGY: According to the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted in the PubMed, Lilacs and Scopus databases from January 2009 to December 2018, using the groups of descriptors (Cancer OR Neoplasia OR Tumor) and (controlled clinical trial OR randomized clinical trial) associated with the scientific names of the 71 medicinal plants described in RENISUS. The study is registered in PROSPERO CRD42019129927. RESULTS: Of the 29 articles selected, only 17 demonstrated the therapeutic potential of plants included in RENISUS to prevent or treat the side effects induced by chemotherapy, radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, either solely or through an adjuvant effect from drugs already used in the medical clinic. The two plant-based therapies that had the most studies exploring their therapeutic potential on side effects were Zingiber officinale and Aloe vera. CONCLUSION: This study showed that some plants listed in RENISUS have shown preventive and curative potential on side effects induced by conventional treatments in patients with different types of cancer. Therefore, the use of scientifically proven herbal products, in conjunction with conventional therapies, can contribute to a better quality of life in cancer patients undergoing conventional treatments.

Molecular Mechanisms Involved in the Antitumor Activity of Isolated Lectins from Marine Organisms: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Tumor cells may present several molecular alterations that favor their malignancy, among which there is the expression of tumor-related antigens, such as truncated T-glycans, Thomsen-nouvelle, sialyl-Lewis X and sialyl Tn, which may help in the diagnosis and treatment using specific target molecules. Lectins are ubiquitous proteins capable of interacting with specific carbohydrates. Lectins isolated from marine organisms have important characteristics such as low immunogenicity and can bind to complex glycans compared to plant lectins. OBJECTIVE: This work evaluated, through a systematic review, the molecular mechanisms of antitumor activity of lectins isolated from marine organisms. METHODOLOGY: The Pubmed, Lilacs, Science Direct, Wiley and Scopus databases were reviewed using the descriptors: marine lectin and cancer. Articles in English, published between January 2008 and December 2018, which proposed the molecular mechanisms of anticancer activity of lectins from marine organisms were eligible for the study. RESULTS: 17 articles were eligible. The lectins showed promising performance against cancer cells, presenting specific cytotoxicity for some types of malignant cells. The articles presented several lectins specific to different carbohydrates, modulating: pro and anti-apoptotic proteins, transcription factor E2F-1, via mitogen-activated protein kinase. In addition, exogenous lectin expression in cancer cells has been shown to be a promising way to treat cancer. CONCLUSION: This review showed the various studies that described the molecular mechanisms caused by marine lectins with antineoplastic potential. This knowledge is relevant for the development and use of the next generations of lectins isolated from marine organisms, supporting their potential in cancer treatment.