ANTITUMOR AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORY PROPERTIES OF TANNINS OF PLANT ORIGIN AND PERSPECTIVES OF THEIR USE IN PHARMACY

Abstract

Tannins obtained from plants belong to pharmacopoeia preparations. Among their numerous properties used in pharmacology, antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects are of particular importance. There are many hypotheses regarding the mechanisms of the anticarcinogenic effect of tannins obtained from plant raw materials. All of them have not only theoretical, fundamental, but also experimentally proven confirmation. In this regard, carcinogenesis is a whole complex of interrelated biochemical processes. Accordingly, for its treatment, it is necessary to take into account and use a variety of therapeutic effects. In general, tannins act as anti-initiatory and anti-stimulating agents. In most studies, the anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic potential of tannins may be related to their antioxidant properties, which are important for protecting cells from oxidative damage, including lipid peroxidation. The antitumor effects of tannins are mainly mediated by the negative regulation of transcription factors, growth factors, receptor kinases and many oncogenic molecules. When directly treating tissues containing tumor cells with tannin compounds, their viability is suppressed by stopping the cell cycle and inducing internal pathways of apoptosis. In addition, treatment with tannic acid suppresses various functional processes that ensure the viability of malignant cells, including invasion, migration and stemming. As for the antimicrobial activity of tannins, they have a wide spectrum of action due to the suppression of the growth of bacteria, viruses and many fungi. Antimicrobial mechanisms are also quite extensive. They can be caused by the destruction of the integrity of the cell wall of the microbe, antioxidant properties, blocking of the receptor apparatus, life-supporting enzymes of viruses and fungi.