| Cancer Prevention by Natural Carotenoids |
| Paper ID : 1014-ISCH |
| Authors |
|
Medhat Wahba Shafaa * Medical Biophysics Dept., Physics Dept., Faculty of Science, Helwan University |
| Abstract |
| Carotenoids are natural fat-soluble pigments that provide bright coloration to plants and animals. Dietary intake of carotenoids is inversely associated with the risk of a variety of cancers in different tissues. Preclinical studies have shown that some carotenoids have potent antitumor effects both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting potential preventive and/or therapeutic roles for the compounds. Since chemoprevention is one of the most important strategies in the control of cancer development, molecular mechanism-based cancer chemoprevention using carotenoids seems to be an attractive approach. Various carotenoids, such as β-carotene, α-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, canthaxanthin and astaxanthin, have been proven to have anti-carcinogenic activity in several tissues. Thus, more extensive studies on cancer preventive activities of natural carotenoids in foods were carried out. Natural treatment could be the best replacement for the treatment of cancer avoiding the various physical side effects caused by chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This treatment can effectively avoid the damaging of normal, healthy cells near cancer cells. |
| Keywords |
| Carotenoids; Liposomes; Comet Assay; Cell Cycle; Cytotoxicity; Apoptosis |
| Status: Abstract Accepted (Oral Presentation) |