Polyphenol-Based Prevention and Treatment of Cancer Through Epigenetic and Combinatorial Mechanisms

Abstract

Polyphenols have been shown to be utilized as an effective treatment for cancer by acting as a DNMT or HDAC inhibitor, reducing inflammatory processes, and causing cell cycle arrest. While there have been many studies demonstrating the anti-cancerous potential of individual polyphenols, there are limited studies on the combinatorial effects of polyphenols. This review focuses on how combinations of different polyphenols can be used as a chemotherapeutic treatment option for patients. Specifically, we examine the combinatorial effects of three commonly used polyphenols: curcumin, resveratrol, and epigallocatechin gallate. These combinations have been shown to induce apoptosis, prevent colony formation and migration, increase tumor suppression, reduce cell viability and angiogenesis, and create several epigenetic modifications. In addition, these anti-cancerous effects were synergistic and additive. Thus, these findings suggest that using different combinations of polyphenols at the appropriate concentrations can be used as a better and more efficacious treatment against cancer as compared to using polyphenols individually.

Keywords: cancer; combination; dietary polyphenols; epigenetics.

Figure 1

↑ = Indicates increase; ↓ = Indicates decrease. The diverse functions of polyphenols. Created in BioRender. Lab, T. (2024) https://BioRender.com/l10i067 (accessed on 7 December 2024) [7,8,9,10].

Figure 2

Effects of Curcumin on cancer. Curcumin affects many pathways including the AKT, MAPK, ROS, mTOR, NF-kB, and Caspase pathways. This leads to DNA damage, apoptosis, and decreased cell growth. Created in BioRender. Lab, T. (2025) https://BioRender.com/u13o398 (accessed on 5 February 2025) [39,40].

Figure 3

Effects of resveratrol on cancer. Resveratrol affects many pathways, including the AKT, Bcl, Bax, SIRT1, p53, NF-kB, and TFEB pathways. This leads to improved mitochondrial function, apoptosis, and decreased inflammation. Created in BioRender. Lab, T. (2024) https://BioRender.com/s56n309 (accessed on 7 December 2024) [40,49,50,51,52,53].

Figure 4

Effects of EGCG on cancer. EGCG affects many pathways, including the PKC, AMPK, PTEN, RAS, NF-kB, and cAMP pathways. This leads to improved mitochondrial function, reduced cell stress, and decreased transcription. Created in BioRender. Lab, T. (2024) https://BioRender.com/s56n309 (accessed on 7 December 2024) [57,58].