Postgraduate College, Campus San Luis Potosí, Salinas de Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí 78622, Mexico.
Hematopoiesis and Leukemia Laboratory, Research Unit on Cell Differentiation and Cancer, Faculty of High Studies Zaragoza, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City 09230, Mexico.
Molecules. 2024 Mar 23;29(7):1439. doi: 10.3390/molecules29071439.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, making the search for alternatives for its control a critical issue. In this context, exploring alternatives from natural sources, such as certain vegetables containing a variety of secondary metabolites with beneficial effects on the body and that play a crucial role in the fight against cancer, is essential. Among the compounds with the greatest efficacy in controlling this disease, those with antioxidant activity, particularly phenolic com-pounds, stand out. A remarkable example of this group is protocatechuic acid (PCA), which has been the subject of various revealing research on its activities in different areas. These studies sustain that protocatechuic acid has anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antidiabetic, antiulcer, antiviral, antifibrogenic, antiallergic, neuroprotective, antibacterial, anticancer, antiosteoporotic, anti-aging, and analgesic properties, in addition to offering protection against metabolic syndrome and con-tributing to the preservation of hepatic, renal, and reproductive functionality. Therefore, this paper aims to review the biological activities of PCA, focusing on its anticancer potential and its in-volvement in the control of various molecular pathways involved in tumor development, sup-porting its option as a promising alternative for cancer treatment.
癌症是全球主要死因之一，因此寻找替代方法来控制癌症是一个关键问题。在这种情况下，探索来自天然来源的替代品是必要的，例如某些蔬菜，其中含有多种对身体有益的次生代谢产物，这些代谢产物在抗癌方面发挥着至关重要的作用。在具有最大疗效的化合物中，具有抗氧化活性的化合物，特别是酚类化合物，尤为突出。原儿茶酸（PCA）就是这类化合物中的一个显著例子，它在不同领域的各种活性研究中备受关注。这些研究表明，原儿茶酸具有抗炎、抗突变、抗糖尿病、抗溃疡、抗病毒、抗纤维化、抗过敏、神经保护、抗菌、抗癌、抗骨质疏松、抗衰老和镇痛作用，此外还能预防代谢综合征，并有助于维持肝脏、肾脏和生殖功能。因此，本文旨在综述 PCA 的生物学活性，重点探讨其抗癌潜力及其在控制肿瘤发展中涉及的各种分子途径中的作用，支持将其作为癌症治疗的一种有前途的替代方法。
