Corina Danciu

By Danciu Corina, Soica Codruta, Antal Diana, Alexandra Popescu, Roxana Ghiulai, Ioana Zinuca Pavel, Stefana Avram, Minda Daliana and Cristina Dehelean

The chapter includes a brief presentation of the types of skin cancer. The most aggressive type of skin cancer, melanoma, is discussed from the point of view of incidence, molecular, and immunohistochemical mechanism along with the most important biomarkers for identification. Recent studies containing active phytocompounds with chemopreventive activity pointing toward phytochemicals used for melanoma prevention and therapy are reviewed. Modern physicochemical formulations for the enhancement of bioavailability of some active phytochemicals with chemopreventive activity for malignant melanoma are discussed.

Part of the book: Natural Products and Cancer Drug Discovery

By Stefana Avram, Roxana Ghiulai, Ioana Zinuca Pavel, Marius Mioc, Roxana Babuta, Mirela Voicu, Dorina Coricovac, Corina Danciu, Cristina Dehelean and Codruta Soica

Cancer is the second cause of mortality worldwide. Angiogenesis is an important process involved in the growth of primary tumors and metastasis. New approaches for controlling the cancer progression and invasiveness can be addressed by limiting the angiogenesis process. An increasingly large number of natural compounds are evaluated as angiogenesis inhibitors. The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay represents an in vivo attractive experimental model for cancer and angiogenesis studies as prescreening to the murine models. Since the discovery of tumor angiogenesis, the CAM has been intensively used in cancer research. The advantages of this in vivo technique are in terms of low time-consuming, costs, and a lower number of sacrificed animals. Currently, a great number of natural compounds are being investigated for their effectiveness in controlling tumor angiogenesis. Potential reducing of angiogenesis has been investigated by our group for pentacyclic triterpenes, in various formulations, and differences in their mechanism were registered. This chapter aims to give an overview on a number of phytocompounds investigated using in vitro, murine models and the chorioallantoic membrane assay as well as to emphasize the use of CAM assay in the study of natural compounds with potential effects in malignancies.

Part of the book: Natural Products and Cancer Drug Discovery

By Corina Danciu, Suciu Oana, Diana Simona Antal, Florina Ardelean, Aimée Rodica Chiş, Codruţa Şoica, Florina Andrica, Cristina Dehelean and Vlaicu Brigitha

Isoflavones are a class of plant secondary metabolites, with an estrogen‐like structure presenting a plethora of biological activities. The chapter discusses important facts about this class of phytoestrogens, from biosynthesis to the latest research about their health benefits. The following major points discussed are: biosynthesis, regulation, isolation, metabolism and bioavailability, isoflavones in diet and intake, and new insights regarding the therapeutic effect including cancer chemoprevention. The chapter ends with a mini review of own research of the anti‐inflammatory and chemopreventive activity of isoflavonoid genistein alone and incorporated in modern pharmaceutical formulations. The chapter updates the interested researchers in the field with the latest progress regarding potential health benefits of isoflavones.

Part of the book: Flavonoids

By Codruţa Şoica, Diana Antal, Florina Andrica, Roxana Băbuţa, Alina Moacă, Florina Ardelean, Roxana Ghiulai, Stefana Avram, Corina Danciu, Dorina Coricovac, Cristina Dehelean and Virgil Păunescu

Skin cancer is an increasingly frequent pathology, with a dangerous high percentage of malignant melanoma. The use of synthetic chemotherapy raises the problem of severe adverse effects and the development of resistance to treatment. Therefore, the use of natural therapies became the focus of numerous research groups due to their high efficacy and lower systemic adverse effects. Among natural products evaluated as therapeutical agents against skin cancer, betulinic acid was emphasized as a highly selective anti-melanoma agent and is currently undergoing phase II clinical trials as topical application. Several other pentacyclic triterpenes exhibit antiproliferative activities. This chapter aims to present the latest main discoveries in the class of pentacyclic triterenes with antitumor effect and the evolution of their preclinical trials. Furthermore, it includes reports on plant sources containing pentacyclic triterpenes, as well as the main possibilities of their water solubilization and cancer cell targeting. A review on recent data regarding mechanisms of action at cellular and molecular levels complements information on the outstanding medicinal potential of these compounds.

Part of the book: Unique Aspects of Anti-cancer Drug Development

By Valentina Buda, Minodora Andor, Antal Diana, Florina Ardelean, Ioana Zinuca Pavel, Cristina Dehelean, Codruta Soica, Roxana Folescu, Felicia Andrei and Corina Danciu

Cardiovascular diseases represent the main cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Obesity, sedentary life style, diet, smoking and stress are the principal inducers of hypertension, endothelium dysfunction and insulin resistance in the developed countries. The latest in vitro and in vivo studies on different type of extracts obtained from black-fruited Aronia highlight its excellent cardioprotective actions for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. So, this chapter aims to bring an up-to-date regarding the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherosclerotic, antiplatelet, blood pressure, glucose and lipid reduction properties of black-fruited Aronia, as a possible new therapeutic strategy for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular pathologies.

Part of the book: Bioactive Compounds in Nutraceutical and Functional Food for Good Human Health