Anti-angiogenesis potential of phytochemicals for the therapeutic management of tumors.

The necessary role of angiogeneses during the growth and progression of tumors is well documented. Likewise, a balance is generally maintained between the cellular proliferation and the apoptosis, therefore, the tumors can persist for years in a dormant phase. During the past few years, many hypotheses have been proposed concerning the importance of tumor angiogenesis for the development and spread of tumors and preventive or therapeutic capacity of angiogenesis inhibitors as a novel target for controlling the growth of cancerous tissue. The anti-angiogenic based therapeutic approaches are considered as the most promising method for the control of tumors, as this therapeutic approach is are less likely to attain the drug resistance. Further, the tumor vasculature is an important prognostic marker which can independently predict the pathological stages as well as the malignant potential of tumors. Various biologically active phytochemicals have been extracted from the dietary sources and the plants that have engaged the scientist and pharmaceutical industries around the globe. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic potential of these bioactive phytochemicals is evident from the in vitro approaches and studies involving the animal models. The present review is focused on the promising role of anti-angiogenesis-based therapies for the management of tumors and the recent developments relating to the interplay of phytochemicals and angiogenesis for the suppression of tumor cells.