Table 1.
The role of bitter melon in breast cancer prevention and therapy.
| Study | Study Model | Main Findings |
|---|---|---|
| Rybak et al. [16] | BT20 | Sensitivity to MAP30 and GAP31 |
| Huang et al. [17] | MDA-MB-231 | Dependency on endopeptidase digestion |
| Lee-Huang et al. [18] | MDA-MB-231 | Reduced in vitro cancer cell proliferation and HER2 expression Significantly higher survival rates in treated SCID mice |
| Bai et al. [19] | MCF-7 MDA-MB-231 |
Cancer cell proliferation inhibition Apoptosis and autophagy induction ROS generation Histone deacetylase downregulation |
| Weng et al. [20] | MCF-7 MDA-MB-231 |
Apoptosis and autophagy induction PPARγ pathway activation |
| Weng et al. [21] | MCF-7 | PPARγ pathway activation ROS generation Histone deacetylase 1 downregulation Cell cycle arrest |
| Lepionka et al. [22] | Sprague-Dawley rats | Elevated cis-9, trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid levels Profound impact on serum fatty acids content |
| Białek et al. [23] | Sprague-Dawley rats | Diminution of cholesterol levels in the heart tissue Less cardiac incorporation of conjugated fatty acids in the cancerous process |
| Cao et al. [24] | MCF-7 MDA-MB-231 MDA-MB-453 |
In vivo tumor growth inhibition Enhanced caspase-3 activities Cell cycle arrest |
| Deng et al. [25] | MDA-MB-231 EMT-6 |
Enhanced anticancer effectiveness and more moderate toxic profile after polyethylene glycolylation |
| Fang et al. [26] | MCF-7 | Potent cytostatic and cytotoxic effects |
| Ehigie et al. [27] | MDA-MB-231 | Low mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular ATP levels High ROS levels |
| Grossmann et al. [28] | MDA-MB-231 MDA-ERα |
Cancer cell proliferation inhibition Apoptosis induction Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential Cell cycle arrest |
| Muhammad et al. [29] | MCF-7 MDA-MB-231 |
Apoptosis and autophagy induction In vivo tumor growth inhibition |
| Ray et al. [30] | MCF-7 MDA-MB-231 |
Cancer cell proliferation inhibition Amplified PARP cleavage Enhanced caspase activation |
| Nagasawa et al. [31] | SHN female mice | In vivo tumor growth inhibition with negligible side effects |
| Feng et al. [32] | 4T1 MCF-7 |
Cancer cell proliferation inhibition ROS generation Mitochondrial function disruption In vivo tumor growth inhibition with negligible side effects |
| Shim et al. [33] | MDA-MB-231 MDA-MB-468 |
Low cholesterol and lipid expression levels In vivo tumor growth inhibition |
| Kilcar et al. [34] | MCF-7 MDA-MB-231 |
Significant estrogen receptor-dependent interaction after combination with paclitaxel |