Zyflamend mediates therapeutic induction of autophagy to apoptosis in melanoma cells

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer. The rising incidence of melanoma and its poor prognosis in advanced stages are compelling reasons to identify novel therapeutic agents. Though isolated dietary components such as lycopene, resveratrol, and isothiocyanate compounds have been shown to provide limited protection against cancer development, the use of whole herbs and herbal extracts for the treatment of cancer remains of great interest. As suggested by earlier studies, the antiinflammatory activity of many plants available as intact products or as extracts has long been considered for supplemental therapeutics for cancer. Zyflamend, a unique multiherbal extract preparation, is a promising antiinflammatory agent that has also been suggested to regulate multiple pathways in cancer progression. As Zyflamend contains ingredients that can suppress tumor cell proliferation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis through regulation of inflammatory pathway products, we hypothesized that this preparation might inhibit melanoma proliferation. To test this hypothesis, we studied the effect of Zyflamend on melanoma proliferation. Here, we present that Zyflamend inhibits melanoma growth by regulating the autophagy-apoptosis switch. Based on the responsible molecular mechanisms of Zyflamend, our study highlights the importance of the use of herbal preparations for the prevention and treatment of cancer.