Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

IB 117 > Topic 8: Cancer, Immune System & Phytomedicines > Flashcards

Topic 8: Cancer, Immune System & Phytomedicines Flashcards

1
Q

Colchicum autumnale (Overview)

A
  • plant family: Colchicaeceae
  • common name: crocus
  • geography: europe to north africa
  • habit/habitat: herb, gardens
  • plant part used: corms
  • ethnomedical uses: gout, arthritis, inflammation, pain
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Colchicum autumnale (Chemistry)

A

-pharmaceuticals (alkaloids): colchicine, colchicum, colchiceine, amide, demecolcine
-mechanisms of action: causes a doubling of chromosomes by disorganizing the spindle mechanism at mitosis
-modern medical uses:
colchicine: gout, antitumor
colchiceine amide: antitumor
demecolcine: antitumor

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Podophyllum peltatum and P. hexandrum (Overview)

A
  • plant family: Berberidaceae
  • common name: may apple
  • geography: P. peltatum in eastern north america and P. hexandrum in himalays
  • habit/habitat: perennial herb, forest
  • plant parts: rhizome
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Podophyllum peltatum and P. hexandrum (Chemistry)

A

-active components: podophyllum resin from rhizone and pdodphyllotoxin (podofilox)
-chemical derivatives: etoposide, teniposide
-mechanisms of action:
podophyllotoxin binds microtubule resulting in mitotic arrest in metaphase
teniposide and etopside block G1 phase of mitosis and S phase (DNA replication)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Catharanthus roseus (Overview)

A
  • plant famiy: Apocynaceae
  • common name: madagascar periwinkle, rosy periwinkle
  • geography: native to madagascar, naturalized throughout the world
  • habit/habitat: herb, open disturbed ground
  • plant part used: all parts
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Podophyllum peltatum and P. hexandrum (Uses)

A

-ethnomedical use: warts, laxative, cathartic, emetic, helminthic infectons, cancer
-therapeutic uses:
podophyllum resin: applied topically to tx condylomata acuminata (anogenital warts)
teniposide and etopside: testicalr carcinomas, small-cell lung carcinoma, Hodgkin;s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, breast cancer, Karposi’s sarcoma, acute granulocytic leukemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Catharanthus roseus (Chemistry)

A
  • active components (alkaloids): vincristine and vinblastine
  • mechanisms of action: bind to protein tublin to inhibit microtubule formation, prevents mitotic spindle formation, and arrests of cell division at metaphase
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Cathaaranthus roseus (Uses)

A
  • ethnomedical use: type 2 diabetes mellitus, Hodgekin’s disease
  • therapeutic uses:
    vincristine: acute childhood leukemia, Hodgekins deases, non-Hodgekin’s lymphoma, Wilm’s tumor, neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, rapidly proliferating neoplasms
    vinblastine: lymphoma, Hodgekin’s lymphoma, Karposi’s sarcoma, breat carcinoma, testicular carcinoma
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Taxus brevifolia (Overview)

A
  • plant family: Taxaceae
  • common name: pacific yew
  • geography: northern california up through pacific northwest
  • habit/habitat: shrub, tree, forest
  • plant part used: bark needles
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Taxus brevifolia (Chemistry)

A
  • ethnomedical use: skin cancer
  • active compound: paclitaxel (taxol)
  • chemical derivative: docetaxel (taxotere)
  • mechanism of action: antimicrotubule and antimitotic
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Taxus brevifolia (Uses)

A

paclitaxel (taxol) and decotaxel (taxotere)
-therapeutic uses: metastatic ovarian and breast cancer, potential use against carcinomas of the bladder, lung, head, neck, and espophagus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Camptotheca acuminata

A

-common name: cancer tree, happy tree, Xi Shu
-geography: china
-active molecule: camptothecin
-mechanism of action: camptothecin and its analog compounds can inhibit the nuclear DNA topoisomerase I enzyme
therapeutic uses: leukemia

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Nerium oleander

A
  • common name: oleander
  • family: apocinaceae
  • active molecules: oleandrin and oleandrigenin in plant extract preparation called anvirzel
  • mechanism of action: stimulates tumor necrosis factor
  • clinical use: experimental use to treat a variety of cancers
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Viscum album

A
  • plant family: loranthaceae
  • common name: european mistletoe
  • ecology: parasite on Quercus
  • plant part used: bark extract
  • cultural origins: europe
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Viscum album (Uses)

A
  • ethnomedical uses: joint inflammation, malignant tumors

- therapeutic uses: joint inflammation, malignant tumors, breast cancer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Anti-cancer Phytochemicals in Vegetables and Fruits

A

a diet rich in a spectrum of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of developing cancer

17
Q

Lycopene Carotenoid

A
  • from Solanum (=Lycopersicum) esculenta (tomato)
  • lycopene is a plant carotenoid found in tomato paste and also in watermons and grapefruits
  • consumption of lycopene-rich foods work to reduce the likelihood of developing prostate cancer
18
Q

Brassica oleracea

A
  • contain anticancer molecules
  • varieties: broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, brussel sprouts
  • native to europe
  • eaten as food
  • sulfur rich active molecuels: isothiocyanates, glucosinolates
  • reduce breast, prostate and ovarian cancers
19
Q

Coffee arabica, C. robusta

A

-origin of coffee: northeastern africa
-plant parts used: seeds roasted, ground up, and brewed in hot water as a beverage
-active molecules: caffeine, anti-oxidant polyphenols
-studies conducted by the harvard school of public health have demonstrated the following:
reduces prostate cancer in men
reduces endometrial cancer in women
reduces breast cancer in women
reduces basal cell carcinoma of skin in men and women

20
Q

Zingiber officinalis

A
  • ginger
  • origin: asia
  • when meat is grilled, carcinogenic compounds are especially concentrated on the areas of the meat that are burned
  • use of ginger containing sauces (e.g., teriyaki sauce) on the covering of the meat as it is grilled, significantly reduces the level of carcinogen formation in the grilled meat
21
Q

Estrogen Receptor Binding

A
  • bone estrogen receptors -> activates genes in bone -> low osteoporosis
  • breast estrogen receptors -> activates genes in breasts -> high breast cancer
  • uterine estrogen receptors -> activates genes in uterus -> high uterine cancer
22
Q

Estradiol and Estrogen Derivatives Receptor Binding

A
  • estradiol activates all three receptor types: low osteoporosis, high breast and uterine cancer
  • tamoxifen activates bone and uterine receptors, but blocks breast receptors: low osteoporosis, and high uterine cancer
  • raloxifene activates bone receptors and blocks both breast and uterine receptors: low osteoporosis
23
Q

Beneficial Effects of Phytoestrogens From Soy and Other Plant-based Foods

A
  • phytoestrogens have weak estrogenic effects which appear to be similar to the raloxifene
  • isoflavones, lignins, and coumestrosis are all plant-derived phytoestrogens which may benefit post-menopausal disorders
24
Q

Phytoestrogens (Effects)

A

dietary phytoestrogens may reduce:

  • cardiovascular disease
  • breast cancer
  • ovarian cancer
  • prostate cancer
  • menopausal symptoms
  • osteoporosis
25
Q

Isoflavone Phytoestrogens

A
  • in legumes (e.g., soybeans) fruits and vegetables
  • formonoetin and biochanin A metabolized by bowel microflora to daidzein and genistein
  • genistein may be further metabolized by p-ethyl phenol
26
Q

Glycine max

A
  • soybeans, in Fabaceae
  • native to chian, consumed as whole bean, tofu, miso, soya sauce, flour
  • highest amount of isoflavones of any known plant foods
  • soybeans are 40% protein
  • complete protein when combined with rice or wheat
  • contain significant amounts of alpha-linolenic acid, genistein, and daidzein
27
Q

Lignan Phytoestrogens

A
  • flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) in Linaceae
  • lignin forms foundation of plant cell wall
  • flaxseed highest known plant food source of lignans
  • secoisolariciresinol and matieresinol are metabolized in humans to form the human lignans, enterolactone and enterodiol
  • other rich sources of lignins: lentils, soy beans, triticale wheat, wheat bran, oat bran, kidney beans, navy beans,garlic, carrots, seeds, legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
28
Q

Coumestan Phytoestrogens

A

coumestrol

  • sources: sunflower seeds, legumes, and bean sprouts
  • structure: similar to genistein and 17-beta esetradiol
  • action: competitively binds to estrogen cytosol receptors
29
Q

Phytoestrogens (Mechanisms of Action)

A
  • bind to nuclear type II estrogen binding sites
  • weaker estrogenic qualities than endogenous estrogens (e.g., estradiol)
  • stimulate protein synthesis to a lesser degree than endogenous estrogens
  • compete with stronger endogenous estrogens for receptors
  • exert weak agonistic and antagonistic estrogenic activity
  • inhibit growth of estrogen sensitive cancers (e.g., breast cancer)
30
Q

Phytoestrogens (In Diet)

A
  • 45 grams of soy protein a day for adults is recommended to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, hormone dependent tumors (breast cancer), menopausal symptoms, and osteoporosis
  • lower intakes of soy protein per day would likely also be beneficial
  • isoflavins and lignans inhibit the proliferation of estrogen sensitive breast cancer cell lines

IB 117 (9 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions