| abstract |
The subject of the invention is a use of plant-derived miRNA molecule or its synthetic equivalent, selected from amongst plant-miR-20, plant-miR-27, plant-miR-34 or plant-miR-168a, for decreasing tumor proliferation by regulating expression of cancer-related proteins in humans. An isolated plant-functional microRNA or an extract containing said plant-functional microRNA, a preparation method therefore, and an application thereof are provided. More particularly, the invention concerns the use of an water-soluble extract of the Moninga oleifera plant seeds, as active principle, on its own or combined with at least another active principle, for preparing a nutraceutical composition used for treating or preventing cancer. The composition is easily absorbed in the cells, and has beneficial advantages selectively toxic for cancer but not normal cells. The invention therefore delivers a novel therapeutic method based on endogenous or synthetic plant-functional microRNAs capable of regulating mammalian SIRT-1 pathway associated non-plant target-genes and decreasing proliferation of human cancer cells. |