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Review
. 2016 Aug 22;8(8):515.
doi: 10.3390/nu8080515.

Natural Polyphenols for Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

Yue Zhou  1 , Jie Zheng  2 , Ya Li  3 , Dong-Ping Xu  4 , Sha Li  5 , Yu-Ming Chen  6 , Hua-Bin Li  7   8
Affiliations
Review

Natural Polyphenols for Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

Yue Zhou et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

There is much epidemiological evidence that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables could lower the risk of certain cancers. The effect has been attributed, in part, to natural polyphenols. Besides, numerous studies have demonstrated that natural polyphenols could be used for the prevention and treatment of cancer. Potential mechanisms included antioxidant, anti-inflammation as well as the modulation of multiple molecular events involved in carcinogenesis. The current review summarized the anticancer efficacy of major polyphenol classes (flavonoids, phenolic acids, lignans and stilbenes) and discussed the potential mechanisms of action, which were based on epidemiological, in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies within the past five years.

Keywords: anti-inflammation; anticancer; antioxidant; flavonoid; polyphenol.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The chemical structures of cyanidin (R1 = OH, R2 = H), delphinidin (R1 = R2 = OH), peonidin (R1 = OCH3, R2 = H), petunidin (R1 = OCH3, R2 = OH), pelargonidin (R1 = R2 = H) and malvidin (R1 = R2 = OCH3).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The chemical structure of xanthohumol.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The chemical structure of EGCG.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The chemical structures of naringenin (a) and hesperetin (b).
Figure 5
Figure 5
The chemical structures of apigenin (R1 = OH, R2 = H), chrysin (R1 = R2 = H) and luteolin (R1 = R2 = OH).
Figure 6
Figure 6
The chemical structures of quercetin (R1 = H, R2 = R3 = OH), kaempferol (R1 = R3 = H, R2 = OH), myricetin (R1 = R2 = R3 = OH), galangin (R1 = R2 = R3 = H) and isorhamnetin (R1 = H, R2 = OH, R3 = OCH3).
Figure 7
Figure 7
The chemical structures of daidzein (R = H) and genistein (R = OH).
Figure 8
Figure 8
The chemical structures of (a) ellagic acid; (b) gallic acid and (c) ferulic acid.
Figure 9
Figure 9
The chemical structures of (a) Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside and (b) sesamin.
Figure 10
Figure 10
The chemical structures of resveratrol (R1 = R2 = R3 = H), pterostilbene (R1 = R2 = CH3, R3 = OH), piceatannol (R1 = R2 = H, R3 = OH).
Figure 11
Figure 11
Mechanisms of the anticancer activities of natural polyphenols → stands for activation, – for regulation, ⊥ for inhibition.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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