Abstract
Phytochemicals are a diverse group of compounds found in a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs, and have been reported to possess a number of health benefits. Marketed as supplements by health food retailers, this group of naturally occurring compounds have been investigated for a number of years to determine if they possess any chemopreventative and/or chemotherapeutic benefits. In this comprehensive review, the phytochemicals resveratrol, berberine and curcumin will be discussed, with particular focus being given to their proposed anti-cancer applications. The purpose of this review is to help clarify whether there is any truth in the claims that are regularly made regarding the efficacy of these compounds. To this end, a number of significant studies that involved the use of these phytochemicals will be identified, discussed and evaluated, to determine if they show promise in the ongoing fight to reduce the incidence rates and severity of various cancers. Specifically, it is the aim of this review, to present and discuss key studies performed over the last two decades using these compounds, and to evaluate, compare, and contrast their effectiveness as chemopreventatives and chemotherapeutics. This should provide the reader with an overarching picture of how these structurally similar phytochemicals might be used in both clinical and non-clinical settings, as a part of the ongoing effort by clinicians, to help to slow down the increasing rate of cancers observed over the last few decades. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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