Plant Secondary Metabolites as Apoptosis-inducing Agents

Apoptosis or programmed cell death is a carefully synchronized collapse of cells due to protein degradation and fragmentation of DNA. It is an essential part of the life cycle of every multicellular organism, including worms to humans. Apoptosis plays a major role in cancer development as well. Various studies confirm the potential of many drugs to change the regulation and ratio of pro-apoptotic and antiapoptotic factors. Plants are the best-known source of drugs for various diseases, including cancer. Plant secondary metabolites (alkaloids, terpenes and phenolics) are the major constituents used as drugs. Several studies confirm that these secondary metabolites can induce apoptosis by triggering pro-apoptotic and antiapoptotic factors. This article has studied some of the important secondary metabolites and their mode of action as apoptotic triggering agents.