- 1
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Dalhousie University, Truro, Canada. cijo2004@gmail.com.
Abstract
Skin cancer
in humans represents about 30% of all new cancers and by far the most
common malignancy in Caucasian population. Exposure to radiations
especially ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation is the major cause for
development of skin cancers along with other chemical or biological
factors. The growing incidence rates of skin cancer around the world, demanded the need for new treatment options. Understanding the etiology and pathogenesis of skin cancer
is therefore crucial for developing an effective drug against this
prevailing disease. Medicinal plants are rich with numerous secondary
metabolites such as flavonoids, which are now known to treat various chronic diseases, including inflammations and cancers. Flavonoids
are sub-classified in to flavones, flavonols, iosflavones, flavanones,
flavanols and anthocyanidins. They act by different targets including
scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), regulation of cell cycle, and
initiation of DNA repair mechanisms, apoptotic induction and inhibition
of metastasis. Innumerable evidence suggested that an increased
consumption of flavonoid-rich fruits and vegetables rendered DNA
protection to normal skin exposed to carcinogens such as UV-B
radiations. Flavonoids also showed the potential to induce cell death mechanisms in melanoma, the most dreadful form of skin cancer. This comprehensive review presents flavonoids and their mechanism of action in relation to inflammation and skin cancer management.
