Natural compounds that slow glycolysis in cancers

As a young scientist in the 1920s, Otto Heinrich Warburg described an elevated rate of glycolysis occurring in cancer cells, even in the presence of atmospheric oxygen (the Warburg effect) that earned him a Nobel Prize. Glycolysis is the metabolic pathway where cells take glucoseA type of sugar; the chief source of energy for living organisms. to produce energy for cell function and replication. [1]

The alternative cancer world has long seen this fact as a therapeutic strategy to help block cancer’s fuel source. Let's explore the latest scientific data that support various natural compounds effect on glycolysis to inhibit the Warburg effect. [2]

Hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is one of the key transcription factors that play major roles in tumor glycolysis and could directly trigger the Warburg effect. Thus, how to inhibit HIF-1-dependent, Warburg effect, to assist the cancer therapy is becoming a hot issue in cancer research. While the pharmaceutical industry scrambles to produce a patentable drug, research is backing natural substances that we can use now.

“I believe that getting one’s nutrition from one’s food is the best approach to care whenever possible. … It is best to eat them as near to the way God made them, organic, fresh, and whole.”

Dr. Kevin Conners

Here are a few details about HIF-1. It up-regulates the glucose transporters (GLUT) that increase the amount of glucose getting into the cell, a bad thing for those with cancer as it fuels the fire. It induces the expression of glycolytic enzymes, such as hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase, so glucose is more readily used as an energy source. If there exist natural compounds to help regulate these glycolysis-signaling pathways, we may help more people with cancer. [3, 4]

First, let’s explore nutrients that may regulate the glucose transporters that are related to glycolysis. Many natural compounds affect the expression of glucose transporters (especially GLUT1 and GLUT4) indirectly. Flavones, polyphenols, and alkaloids are interesting bioactive anticancer molecules isolated from plants, as several of them have been repeatedly reported to control glucose transporter activity in different cancer cell models.

Flavones are plant-derived compounds that are commonly consumed in the diet as flavonoids. These are present in fruits, vegetables, tea, red wine, dark chocolate, and herbs such as ginkgo biloba, and milk thistle. Polyphenols give fruits, berries, and vegetables their vibrant colors, and contribute to the bitterness, astringency, flavor, and aroma. They are found in a wide variety of foods, herbs, berries, fruits, and spices.

These compounds have various names (Fisetin, myricetin, quercetin, apigenin, genistein, cyanidin, daidzein, hesperetin, naringenin, and catechin) with distinct properties. As a matter of fact, comparative studies indicated that these compounds do not exhibit the same mode of action as they bind different domains of GLUT1 to slow glucose transmission. Genistein (an isoflavone found in soy) binds the transporter on the external face whereas quercetin (a flavonoid found in many fruits and vegetables) interacts with the internal face. [7] It’s as if they play different positions on the team’s defensive line, blocking the opposition at alternate angles.

Numerous research articles have been written on the benefits of each of these but it may be the synergy between them, as they are naturally found in food sources that really make them winners. Together, they are well-known inhibitors of glucose uptake in human cells making them beneficial for cancer patients but also diabetics and just about any other inflammatory disorder. [4]

There are also genetic mutations that influence aerobic glycolysis that curcumin (the active form of the Indian spice turmeric) has proven to reverse. [6] Another natural isoflavinoid, 4-O-methyl alpinumisoflavone, isolated from the tropical rainforest tree, Lonchocarpus glabrescens, could inhibit HIF-1 activation and hypoxic induction of HIF-1 target genes (CDKN1A, GLUT-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)). [9]

Also, long chained fatty acid derivatives extracted from Graviola have recently shown multiple anticancer activities in pancreatic cancer cell models. Torres et al. highlighted the ability of this compound to inhibit glucose uptake, and it has strong ability to reduce the expression levels of GLUT1 and GLUT4, HKII, and LDH-A pathways, making it a great player against most cancers. [8]

I believe that getting one’s nutrition from one’s food is the best approach to care whenever possible. We can get plenty of GLUT-blocking players from organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices. It is best to eat them as near to the way God made them, organic, fresh, and whole. While juicing has advantages in predigesting, it removes some of its value. Maybe blending is a better option. Other nutrients mentioned, like curcumin and Graviola, might better be consumed as a supplementA product, generally taken orally, that contains one or more ingredients (such as vitamins or amino acids) that are intended to supplement one's diet and are not considered food..

Hexokinase (HK) is an enzymeA protein that speeds up chemical reactions in the body. found in all cells that aides the processing of glucose thereby increasing a fuel source for cancer. Ionidamine, an HK inhibitor, has become a new drug that interferes with mitochondrial functions, thereby inhibiting cellular oxygen consumption and energy metabolism in both normal and cancerous cells. [9] Some natural compounds have been described as promoting the detachment of HK from mitochondria without any nasty side effects. We’ll discuss these.

Prosapogenin A, a saponin from Chinese herb Veratrum nigrum (black false hellebore or Li Lu in Chinese herbalism), could inhibit cell growth and promote cell apoptosisA type of cell death in which a series of molecular steps in a cell lead to its death. This is one method the body uses to get rid of unneeded or abnormal cells. The process of apoptosis may be blocked in cancer cells. Also called programmed cell death.. [10] Methyl jasmonate, a plant stress hormone produced by many plants including rosemary, olive, and ginger, inhibits HK, triggering apoptosis in cancer cells. [11]

Another enzyme, pyruvate kinase, is specifically expressed in cancer cells and plays an important role in the metabolism and replication. [12] Oleanolic acid, a triterpene found in numerous herbs (Bearberry, Heather, Reishi, Chinese Elder, Olive Leaf Extract, etc.) is an anti-tumor compound that suppresses aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells and targets numerous other pathways that stimulate cell death. [13]

Another novel therapeutic target in inhibiting cancer aerobic glycolysis is to slow the function of another enzyme, LDH-A. As an important factor in NAD regeneration, LDH-A was found to be overexpressed in various types of cancer including renal, breast, gastric, and nasopharyngeal cancer. [14, 15] Inhibition of LDH-A might lead to an energy production blockade in cancer cells. [16, 17]

EGCg from green tea extract has been recently shown to have LDH-A inhibiting activity. [18] But other natural compounds, such as furanodiene and maslinic acid (found in curcumin, ginger, and olive oil derivatives) could increase the LDH release in cancer cells by inducing cancer cell injury. [19, 20]

It seems the more one looks, the more one finds natural sources that may help suppress cancer growth. While recent research helps confirm the testimony of ancient authors, little press is given to such studies. I hope to bring more of this to light.