Anticancer Properties of Inositol Hexaphosphate and Inositol: An Overview

Abstract

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP₆) and its parent compound myo-inositol (Ins) are active compounds from rice and other grains, with a broad spectrum of biological activities important in health and diseases. However, the most striking is the anticancer effect of IP₆ and Ins that has been actively investigated during the last decades. A consistent and reproducible anticancer action of IP₆ has been demonstrated in various experimental models. IP₆ reduces cell proliferation, induces apoptosis and differentiation of malignant cells via PI3K, MAPK, PKC, AP-1 and NF-kappaB. Very few clinical studies in humans and case reports have indicated that IP₆ is able to enhance the anticancer effect of conventional chemotherapy, control cancer metastases, and improve quality of life. Reduced burden of chemotherapy side-effects in patients receiving IP₆ alone or in combination with Ins has been reported. Because of the highly promising preclinical and emerging clinical data, large clinical trials and further mechanistic studies are warranted.