Implication of endophytic metabolite and their derivatives in cancer chemotherapy: A prospective study

Abstract

Incidence of cancer keep increasing worldwide may be due to genetic aberration, environmental effect, diet, socioeconomic factors, and various types of infections. Our previous studies revealed an association of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and their species, Salmonella Typhi (S. Typhi), and Mycobacterium with various gastrointestinal tract (GI) cancers including oral, oropharyngeal, esophageal, gastric, gallbladder, pancreatic, and anal-canal cancers. We experience that poor cure rate is reported due to failure of conventional medicine, drug resistance, and failure to know the exact cause. As we are a group of oncologist and basic researcher, it is our experience that surgical procedures and chemotherapy are better adjuvant therapeutic option for cancer treatment. The area of chemotherapy is enhanced, but basic foundation is devised from natural products, which are used directly or as synthetic derivatives as stand-alone or in different combinations. Microorganisms, either bacteria or fungi that live inside plant tissue (endophytes) system, are big source of natural antimicrobial compound. It is known that endophytic alkaloids, taxoids, podophyllotoxins, etc., have an antineoplastic activity. Keeping these facts in mind, this chapter points out the active exploration and implication of endophytic metabolite and their derivatives in cancer chemotherapy in near future. Obtained data were analyzed and result showed that the endophytic metabolites may be potential source of newer cancer chemotherapeutic drugs. It concluded that in the field of cancer chemotherapy, search for novel drugs from endophytic origin is still a priority.