Abstract
Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds subdivided into 6 groups: isoflavonoids, flavanones, flavanols, flavonols, flavones and anthocyanidins found in a variety of plants. Fruits, vegetables, plant-derived beverages such as green tea, wine and cocoa-based products are the main dietary sources of flavonoids. Flavonoids have been shown to possess a wide variety of anticancer effects: they modulate reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzyme activities, participate in arresting the cell cycle, induce apoptosis, autophagy, and suppress cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness. Flavonoids have dual action regarding ROS homeostasis—they act as antioxidants under normal conditions and are potent pro-oxidants in cancer cells triggering the apoptotic pathways and downregulating pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. This article reviews the biochemical properties and bioavailability of flavonoids, their anticancer activity and its mechanisms of action.
Highlights
Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds synthesized in plants as bioactive secondary metabolites [1] responsible for their color, flavor and pharmacological activities [2]
In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that flavonoids could exert anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory [19] and strong anticancer activities [18,20,21]
The extracellular environment becomes acidic and more favorable to inflammation [47], glutamine-driven lipid biosynthesis increases and upregulates the pathways involved in tumorigenesis initiation and metastasis [48], cardiolipin levels decrease in membranes causing impaired enzyme activities [49,50,51], mitochondria are hyperpolarised [38], and this effect correlates with the malignancy and invasiveness of cancer cells [38]
Summary
Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds synthesized in plants as bioactive secondary metabolites [1] responsible for their color, flavor and pharmacological activities [2]. The highest levels of flavonoids are found in broad beans [13], olives [14], onions [15], spinach [16] and shallot [17]. Flavonoids are potent antioxidants [11] protecting plants from unfavorable environmental conditions [1], they have attracted attention and have been used in numerous epidemiological and experimental studies to assess their possible beneficial effects in multiple acute and chronic human disorders [18]. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that flavonoids could exert anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory [19] and strong anticancer activities [18,20,21]
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