AKBA
AKBA is a natural product obtained from Boswellia species. These species are native to India, the Middle East, and North Africa.
The extract obtained from them is used for multiple purposes for a long time, especially for curing inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and cancer as the AKBA compound contains active ingredients that play a role during the process.
Cancer
Cancer is a complex disease affecting different parts of the body, that occurs when cells in the body undergo uncontrolled growth and divide rapidly.
These cells can invade and destroy healthy tissues, leading to serious health problems.
Many types of cancers have been reported, based on the body part affected and the symptoms and complications caused by it. The most common types of cancer throughout the world are:
Breast cancer
Prostate cancer
Lung cancer
Skin
Ovarian
Colorectal cancer.
Many risk factors have been found, exposure to which can increase the chance for a person to get the disease.
These can include exposure to carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke or radiation, a family history of cancer, an unhealthy diet or lifestyle, and some drugs.
Persons with different types of cancers have different symptoms, it also depends on the stage and extent of the disease.
The most common cancer symptoms include weight loss, fever, fatigue, pain or discomfort, and the presence of lumps or bumps in the body.
If left untreated, cancer can cause serious health problems and even death.
Many treatments for this deadly disease are available including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other forms of therapy or medication.
While there is no single cure for cancer, there have been many advances in cancer therapeutics research that is still going on to find one major cure for this deadly disease.
Thanks to early detection, innovative therapies, and ongoing research, more people than ever before are able to survive and thrive after a cancer diagnosis.
In addition to making healthy lifestyle choices, it is also important to undergo regular screenings for cancer, especially if you have a family history of the disease or other risk factors [1].
Early detection is key in successfully treating and managing cancer.
Cancer affects a large number of people worldwide. There are many steps that individuals and communities can take to reduce their risk of developing cancer and improve their chances of survival in the event of a diagnosis.
With ongoing research, education, and early detection, it is possible to improve outcomes for people with cancer and ultimately, to find a cure for this devastating disease.
Genes Influenced by AKBA in Cancer Cells
Cancer is one of the deadliest diseases that has affected millions of people globally.
The traditional approaches to treating cancer, such as chemotherapy and radiation, have severe side effects and limited success rates. Hence, researchers are exploring new drugs that can target cancer cells at the genetic level.
One such drug is AKBA, which is extracted from the gum of an important tree, Boswellia serrata.
AKBA has been demonstrated to have potential anti-cancer properties and much of the research has been already done in this perspective, supported by clinical trial studies.
AKBA’s anti-cancer properties are attributed to how it affects genes associated with cancer development and progression.
Research is continued to understand the molecular mechanisms of cancer. It is now known that alterations in the expression of different genes play a crucial role in cancer advancement.
AKBA targets many of these genes, either by inhibiting their expression or activating their expression [2].
Several genes have been reported to be influenced by AKBA in cancer cells, including those involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Here, we discuss the major genes and signaling pathways affected by AKBA in cancer cells.
NF-KB Transcription Factor
One of the main ways AKBA targets genes in cancer cells is by inhibiting the NF-KB pathway.
NF-KB is a crucial mediator of inflammation and cell survival.
Excessive activity of this pathway is frequently observed in cancer cells, often contributing to tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy.
AKBA imparts its anti-cancer activity by regulating the expression of NF-KB in tumor cells. It causes the downregulation of different genes that are involved in cell proliferation and metastasis. This, in turn, leads to tumor cell death and the suppression of tumor growth [3].
5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX)
Another way AKBA affects gene expression in cancer cells is by modulating the activity of certain enzymes.
This includes inhibition of the activity of the 5-LOX enzyme, which plays role in the assembly of leukotrienes.
These leukotrienes are the pro-inflammatory mediators that also have a role in the growth and proliferation of tumors.
By inhibiting 5-LOX activity, AKBA suppresses the production of leukotrienes, which leads to reduced inflammation and the inhibition of the proliferation of malignant cells.
AKBA has also been found to increase the activity of certain enzymes involved in detoxification, such as glutathione S-transferase (GST). It catalyzes the coupling of glutathione to some reactive compounds, which helps to neutralize their toxicity.
By increasing the activity of GST, AKBA enhances the detoxification of cancer-causing agents, which can reduce the risk of cancer development [4].
P53 Gene
AKBA also affects several genes involved in cell cycle regulation, which is crucial for preventing the uncontrolled division of cells and the growth of tumors.
This includes the upregulation of the p53 gene that acts as a tumor suppressor gene in normal cells. It plays a very crucial role in regulating the cell cycle.
The activation of p53 triggers the apoptosis of cancer cells, which leads to the suppression of tumor growth [5].
Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
Acetyl keto Boswellic Acid has also been found experimentally to stop the activity of many cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which are enzymes that are involved in controlling the cell cycle.
By inhibiting CDK activity, AKBA blocks cell division and reduces the proliferation of cancer cells [6].
Cyclin D1
Experimental findings have also shown that AKBA plays role in the inhibition of the expression and activity of cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which inhibits cell cycle and retards cancer cell growth.
The key regulator of the G1 checkpoint in the cell cycle is Cyclin and its overexpression has been linked to several types of cancer.
AKBA-induced downregulation of cyclin D1 has been reported in prostate, breast, colon, and pancreatic cancer cells [7].
Caspases 3, 8, and 9
Experiments have also shown that AKBA can induce death in malignant cells by apoptosis via altering the expressions of proteins involved in the apoptotic pathway.
In apoptosis caspases are activated which is a family of proteins (cysteine proteases), cleaves substrate molecules, and leads to cell death of malignant cells.
AKBA plays a role in the upregulation of expression of caspases 3, 8, and 9 in ovarian, pancreatic, and colon cancer cells. AKBA also upregulates the expression of Fas and TNFR1 in prostate and pancreatic malignant cells [8].
VEGF and VEGFR2
AKBA also plays an important role in the inhibition of angiogenesis in malignant cells, which is the process of formation of a new blood vessel in the cancer cells that are required for their growth and metastasis.
AKBA inhibits the expression of VEGF as well as VEGFR2 receptors in the cancer cells, which are the main regulators of angiogenesis.
AKBA has also been shown to inhibit the phosphorylation of Akt, a downstream effector of VEGFR2 signaling, in glioblastoma as well as breast cancer cells [9].
Bax and BCl2
AKBA has been shown to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. AKBA inhibits the anti-apoptotic proteins such as BCL2 and upregulates the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins such as BAX.
This sensitizes the cancer cells to apoptosis, making them more likely to respond to chemotherapy drugs [10].
Conclusion
AKBA’s effects on genes in cancer cells extend beyond the inhibition of cancer development and progression.
Research has shown that AKBA can also sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Chemotherapy drugs exert their effects by damaging the DNA of cancer cells.
However, some cancer cells develop resistance to chemotherapy, which reduces the effectiveness of the treatment.
In conclusion, AKBA has shown promising anti-cancerous properties through its effects on genes associated with cancer development and progression. AKBA targets several pathways involved in cancer development, such as the NF-κB pathway, enzymes involved in inflammation, and cell cycle control genes.
Additionally, AKBA sensitizes cancer cells to chemotherapy drugs, making them more responsive to treatment.
So, AKBA plays a very crucial role in killing malignant cells and stopping their proliferation to reduce tumor size. And this has been proved through different mechanisms of action of AKBA as discussed in this article.
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