Methyl jasmonate (MJ), an oxylipid that induces defense-related mechanisms in plants, has been shown to be active against
cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, without affecting normal cells. Here we review most of the described MJ activities in an attempt to get an integrated view and better understanding of its multifaceted modes of action. MJ (1) arrests cell cycle, inhibiting cell growth and proliferation, (2) causes cell death through the intrinsic/extrinsic proapoptotic, p53-independent apoptotic, and nonapoptotic (
necrosis) pathways, (3) detaches
hexokinase from the
voltage-dependent anion channel, dissociating glycolytic and mitochondrial functions, decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential, favoring
cytochrome c release and
ATP depletion, activating pro-apoptotic, and inactivating antiapoptotic
proteins, (4) induces
reactive oxygen species mediated responses, (5) stimulates MAPK-stress signaling and redifferentiation in
leukemia cells, (6) inhibits overexpressed proinflammatory
enzymes in
cancer cells such as
aldo-keto reductase 1 and
5-lipoxygenase, and (7) inhibits cell migration and shows antiangiogenic and antimetastatic activities. Finally, MJ may act as a chemosensitizer to some chemotherapics helping to overcome
drug resistant. The complete lack of toxicity to normal cells and the rapidity by which MJ causes damage to
cancer cells turn MJ into a promising
anticancer agent that can be used alone or in combination with other agents.