Manna, I; Das, D; Mondal, S; Bandyopadhyay, M; ,
Cancer, one of the most nefarious maladies, is set to affect one in five of the global population soon. Aberrant uncontrolled cell divisions, proliferation and metastasis are hallmarks of cancer. For quite some time now, numerous cancer prevention and treatment strategies have been formulated with a capricious investment of wealth and resources. The state-of-the-art treatment procedures rely on surgeries, radiation therapies, stem cell induction in conjunction with chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapeutics. Yet, these combined treatments are not foolproof often leading to secondary health risks, unspecific outcomes and toxicity. Plant extracts have been used to prevent and cure cancerous growth since times immemorial. In the traditional Indian pharmacopoeia, many phytochemical extracts are listed as potent pharmacotherapeutics against cancer. Zingiberaceae, one of the largest monocot families with a centre of diversity in India, is a promising source of many anti-cancerous, anti-proliferative compounds, attributable to its high polyphenol and flavonoid contents. Principal phytochemicals include curcumin, curcumol, kaempferol, zerumbone, apigenin, galangin, 6-gingerol and 8-gingerol. These compounds are reportedly effective against human colorectal, cervical, breast, lung, ovarian, gastric and liver cancers. Interestingly, the modus-operandi of each compound against cancer cells is unique: curcumin and curcumol reportedly induced apoptosis via p53 regulation and accumulation of ROS/oxidative stress or by modulation of MAPK pathway and inhibition of NF-κB; kaempferol inhibited angiogenesis by suppressing ERK-NFκB-cMyc-p21-VEGF pathway, while apigenin modulated signalling pathways that include PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK, JAK/STAT, NF-κB and Wnt/β-catenin pathways and zerumbone caused apoptosis by expression of pro-apoptotic proteins like Bax via cytochrome-c dependent caspase activation, simultaneously decreasing levels of anti-apoptotic proteins like Bcl2. These phytochemicals are effective in cancer cell lines resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs like cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. Plant-based compounds offer flexibility of usage and diversity of action, affording recourse to most of the woes left behind by systematic and commercial chemical drugs. In this context, the present chapter will thoroughly look into the pros and cons of using phytochemicals of Zingiberaceae on various cancer cell lines, delving into their mode of action, potential side effects, discussing how far research has progressed and what the immediate future holds for us.