Flavonoids: A versatile source of anticancer drugs

Abstract

An exponential increase in the number of studies investigating how different components of the diet interact at the molecular and cellular level to determine the fate of a cell has been witnessed. In search for anticancer drugs compelling data from laboratories, epidemiologic investigations, and human clinical trials showed that flavonoids have important effects on cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. In many molecular mechanisms of action for prevention against cancer, flavonoids play a major role by interacting between different types of genes and enzymes. Many mechanisms of action have been identified, including carcinogen inactivation, antiproliferation, cell cycle arrest, induction of apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis, antioxidation, and reversal of multidrug resistance or a combination of these mechanisms. This review focuses on the anticancer activity of flavonoids as well as their molecular mechanisms, including the treatment of mammary and prostate cancer. This review also highlights some advanced derivatives of flavonoids, which play an important role against cancer.

Understanding the Effectiveness of Natural Compound Mixtures in Cancer through Their Molecular Mode of Action

“…They generally have a sixteen-carbon skeleton and the structures vary around the heterocyclic oxygen ring [59]. Research has shown that flavonoids inhibit cell proliferation and angiogenesis, cause cell cycle arrest, induce cell apoptosis, and reverse multi-drug resistance and/or a combination of the aforementioned mechanisms [60]. …”

Functional Components of Carob Fruit: Linking the Chemical and Biological Space

“…Although polyphenols illustrate a wide range of biological activities in vitro, their low bioavailability attenuates their efficacy in vivo [104,105]. Despite the fact that they are the most common in human diet, their activity is not always in parallel with their abundance, either because of poor absorption or rapid elimination [106].…”

Potential Effects of Medicinal Plants and Secondary Metabolites on Acute Lung Injury

“…These compounds are also a component of disease treatment (phytotherapy), as they are present in the seeds, stems, barks, roots, and/or flowers of several medicinal plants [78]. Flavonoids have shown a wide range of therapeutic properties in clinical and preclinical studies, including, but not limited to, antioxidant, anticancer, antiinflammatory, and antiallergy activities [79–82]. Luteolin, a widely distributed flavonoid, has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic activities [83].…”