Natural fatty acid synthase inhibitors as potent therapeutic agents for cancers: A review

• Published in: Pharmaceutical biology Vol. 54; no. 9; pp. 1919 - 1925
• Main Authors: Zhang, Jia-Sui, Lei, Jie-Ping, Wei, Guo-Qing, Chen, Hui, Ma, Chao-Ying, Jiang, He-Zhong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - adverse effects; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - chemistry; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - isolation & purification; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic - therapeutic use; Antitumour; Apoptosis - drug effects; Fatty Acid Synthases - antagonists & inhibitors; Fatty Acid Synthases - chemistry; Fatty Acid Synthases - metabolism; Fatty Acid Synthesis Inhibitors - adverse effects; Fatty Acid Synthesis Inhibitors - chemistry; Fatty Acid Synthesis Inhibitors - isolation & purification; Fatty Acid Synthesis Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Humans; mechanism of action; natural FAS inhibitors; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - enzymology; Neoplasms - pathology; phenolics; Phytotherapy; Plants, Medicinal; Protein Conformation; Structure-Activity Relationship; Antitumour; mechanism of action; natural FAS inhibitors; phenolics
• ISSN: 1388-0209; 1744-5116
• DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2015.1113995

Context Fatty acid synthase (FAS) is the only mammalian enzyme to catalyse the synthesis of fatty acid. The expression level of FAS is related to cancer progression, aggressiveness and metastasis. In recent years, research on natural FAS inhibitors with significant bioactivities and low side effects has increasingly become a new trend. Herein, we present recent research progress on natural fatty acid synthase inhibitors as potent therapeutic agents. Objective This paper is a mini overview of the typical natural FAS inhibitors and their possible mechanism of action in the past 10 years (2004-2014). Method The information was collected and compiled through major databases including Web of Science, PubMed, and CNKI. Results Many natural products induce cancer cells apoptosis by inhibiting FAS expression, with fewer side effects than synthetic inhibitors. Conclusion Natural FAS inhibitors are widely distributed in plants (especially in herbs and foods). Some natural products (mainly phenolics) possessing potent biological activities and stable structures are available as lead compounds to synthesise promising FAS inhibitors.