Flavonoids, a ubiquitous dietary phenolic subclass, exert extensive in vitro anti-invasive and in vivo anti-metastatic activities

Abstract

Cancer metastasis refers to the spread of cancer cells from the primary neoplasm to distant sites, where secondary tumors are formed, and is the major cause of death from cancer. Natural phytochemicals containing phenolic compounds have been widely demonstrated to have the capability to prevent cancer metastasis. Among phenolic compounds, flavonoids are a very large subclass, and they are abundant in food and nutraceuticals. The number of reports demonstrating that flavonoids are an effective natural inhibitor of cancer invasion and metastasis is increasing in the scientific literature. Catechin derivatives, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, (−)-epigallocatechin, (−)-epicatechin-3-gallate,and (−)-epicatechin, are the most studied compounds in this topic so far; genistein/genistin, silibinin, quercetin, and anthocyanin have also been widely investigated for their inhibitory activities on invasion/metastasis. Other flavonoids in dietary vegetable foods that are responsible for anti-invasive and anti-metastatic activities of tumors include luteolin,apigenin, myricetin, tangeretin, kaempferol, glycitein, licoricidin,daidzein, and naringenin. To effectively overcome the metastatic cascade, including cell-cell attachment, tissue barrier degradation, migration, invasion, cell-matrix adhesion,and angiogenesis, it is essential that a bioactive compound prevent tumor cells from metastasizing. This review summarizes the effects of flavonoids on the metastatic cascade and the related proteins, the in vitro anti-invasive activity of flavonoids against cancer cells, and the effects of flavonoids on antiangiogenic and in vivo anti-metastatic models. The available scientific evidence indicates that flavonoids are a ubiquitous dietary phenolics subclass and exert extensive in vitro anti-invasive and in vivo anti-metastatic activities.

Antiproliferative activity in tumor cell lines, antioxidant capacity and total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents of Myrciaria floribunda

“…Several studies revealed flavonoids as potential antiproliferative and antioxidant agents (Batra andSharma 2013, Weng andYen 2012). Since a previous study with the ethyl acetate extract of M. floribunda leaves reported the flavonoid myricetin-3-galoctoside as one of the main compounds (Tietbohl 2012), this prompted us to determine the total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents and the antioxidant capacity of M. floribunda leaves in order to correlate chemical composition with antiproliferative effect.…”

“…Chemical assays of the extract revealed a high amount of total phenolic compounds, tannin (13%) and flavonoids (24%). Therefore, it is possible to assert that antioxidant capacity and antiproliferative activity of the extract are in suitable correlation with the chemical compound contents (total phenolic compounds, tannin and flavonoids), once these classes of compounds are known as potent antioxidants and anticancer agents (Einbond et al 2004, Batra and Sharma 2013, Weng and Yen 2012, Wang et al 1997. Moreover, Tietbohl (2012) reported that the main constituent of the ethyl acetate extract of M. floribunda leaves is myricetin-3-galoctoside, which has showed an antitumor-promoting activity, and could be related to the results observed in this study (Gao et al 2002, Hayder et al 2008).…”

“…Only one previous study with M. floribunda leaves reported that its ethyl acetate extract has phenolic compounds and the flavonoid myricetin-3-galoctoside was identified as one of the main compounds (Tietbohl 2012). As flavonoids are known to be anticancer and antioxidant agents (Batra andSharma 2013, Weng andYen 2012), this prompted us to evaluate the antiproliferative activity in tumor cell lines and to determine the antioxidant capacity and the contents of total phenolic, flavonoids and tannins of the ethyl acetate extract from the leaves of M. floribunda.…”

Naringenin modulates skeletal muscle differentiation via estrogen receptor α and β signal pathway regulation

“…Naringenin protective effects have been widely studied: antioxidant effects (Renugadevi and Prabu 2009), modulation of cytochrome P450 detoxification enzymes (Huong et al 2006), modulation of plasma cholesterol levels (Jeon et al 2007), and antihyperglycemic effects (Jung et al 2004) have been reported. In addition, several experimental data support anticarcinogenic and pro-apoptotic effects of Nar in numerous types of cancer (Arul and Subramanian 2013;Meiyanto et al 2012;Weng and Yen 2012). Most of these effects have been obtained by using variable Nar concentrations ranging from 1 to 100 lM.…”

Naringenin modulates the metastasis of human prostate cancer cells by down regulating the matrix metalloproteinases -2/-9 via ROS/ERK1/2 pathways

“…In recent years much attention has been focussed on the natural products derived from plants as a source for the discovery of novel cancer chemopreventive agents (Surh, 2003;Weng and Yen, 2012). Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that are found in fruits and vegetables (Nijveldt et al, 2001).…”