New potential instrument to fight hepatocellular cancer by restoring p53

Although the name for cancer as a disease was coined by ancient Greeks and Persians, and in spite of billions of euros, dollars, and other currencies invested in cancer research, the disease remains a major killer, particularly in Western countries (1). Over half of anticancer drugs, including acetogenins, alkaloids, and terpenes, are derived from natural products, especially from the plant kingdom (2-6). Annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs) include a series of natural products isolated from Annonaceae plants. ACGs are white, waxy derivatives of longchain (C35 or C37) fatty acids, characterized by a long aliphatic chain bearing a terminal methyl substituted α, β –unsaturated γ-lactone ring with one-, twoor three tetrahydropyran (THP) rings (5). ACGs are a likely source of potential drugs as they exhibit various biological activities such as cytotoxic, antitumor, antiparasitic, pesticidal, pisicidal, antihelmenthic, antiviral, antimicrobial, c 2011 Kowsar M.P.Co. All rights reserved. Please cite this paper as: Vincent FC, Los JM. New potential instrument to fight hepatocellular cancer by restoring p53. Hepat Mon. 2011;11(5):331-332. Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: The highlighted manuscript provides intersting information about new, plant-derived anticancer drug precursors.