Roles of Carotenoids on the Inhibition of Molecular Cancer Cells

Abstract

Cancer is one of the most common diseases causing death. There are also mechanisms to develop and escape from chemotherapeutic drugs, which the researchers are aware of, and to try to study the inhibition of mechanisms of cancer and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy. The carotenoids are natural compounds that act as an antioxidants and anticancer compounds for lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc. They are found in vegetables and red, orange or green fruits such as pumpkins carrots, papays and broccoli. Sources of carotenoids for examples include alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lycopene. In addition, both in vitro and in vivo studies have shown the role of carotenoids on the inhibition of molecular mechanism of cancer such as cell division, DNA repair mechanism and program cell death. These mechanisms may kill or reduce cancer cells. Finally, this article may be a guideline for further study of the effects of other natural compounds on cancer.