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Review
. 2013 Jun 15;138(4):2099-107.
doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.11.139. Epub 2012 Dec 28.

A review of the dietary flavonoid, kaempferol on human health and cancer chemoprevention

Allen Y Chen  1 , Yi Charlie Chen
Affiliations
Review

A review of the dietary flavonoid, kaempferol on human health and cancer chemoprevention

Allen Y Chen et al. Food Chem. .

Abstract

Kaempferol is a polyphenol antioxidant found in fruits and vegetables. Many studies have described the beneficial effects of dietary kaempferol in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, especially cancer. Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between kaempferol intake and cancer. Kaempferol may help by augmenting the body's antioxidant defence against free radicals, which promote the development of cancer. At the molecular level, kaempferol has been reported to modulate a number of key elements in cellular signal transduction pathways linked to apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation, and metastasis. Significantly, kaempferol inhibits cancer cell growth and angiogenesis and induces cancer cell apoptosis, but on the other hand, kaempferol appears to preserve normal cell viability, in some cases exerting a protective effect. The aim of this review is to synthesize information concerning the extraction of kaempferol, as well as to provide insights into the molecular basis of its potential chemo-preventative activities, with an emphasis on its ability to control intracellular signaling cascades that regulate the aforementioned processes. Chemoprevention using nanotechnology to improve the bioavailability of kaempferol is also discussed.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chemical Structure of Kaempferol.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Kaempferol’s Effects on the MAPK Pathway.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Kaempferol’s Effects on the Cell Cycle.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Metabolic Effects of Kaempferol.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effects of Kaempferol on Angiogenesis. Dashed lines represent previous processes that have been reduced by kaempferol.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Anti-inflammatory Effects of Kaempferol.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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