Garcinol: Preclinical Perspective Underpinning Chemo- And Radiosensitization Of Cancer

Garcinol is the principle bioactive polyisoprenylated benzophenone compound derived from the rind of the fruiting bodies of Garcinia indica. It has gained much attention in recent years for its anticancer and chemopreventive roles in different cancers. Existing data relating to its cytotoxicity and as an anticancer modulator of a variety of site-specific cancers are interesting and forthcoming. Nonetheless, further studies of a combination of garcinol with current therapeutic modalities (chemotherapy and radiation therapy or targeted therapy) may improve prognosis of patients diagnosed with different types of cancer that may plausibly lead to significant advancement in therapeutic benefit to patients in the clinic. This chapter presents a succinct overview on important cellular, molecular, and biological mechanistic events of garcinol action, its bioavailability, and a perspective on the combination strategy with existing therapeutic modalities exhibiting synergistic anticancer activities in preclinical models supporting garcinol as a novel anticancer and a chemopreventive agent and help in moving this bioactive natural compound from the bench to the clinic in the future. Furthermore, we expect this chapter will deliver the idea of a rational design of chemotherapeutic strategies particularly combination approaches against cancer therapeutics.