J Nutr Biochem. 2016 Nov 28;45:1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.jnutbio.2016.11.007. [Epub ahead of print]
- 1
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada.
- 2
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
- 3
- Department of Plant, Food, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Electronic address: vrupasinghe@dal.ca.
Abstract
Carcinogenesis
is a multistage process that involves a series of events comprising of
genetic and epigenetic changes leading to the initiation, promotion and
progression of cancer. Chemoprevention is referred to as the use of
nontoxic natural compounds, synthetic chemicals or their combinations to
intervene in multistage carcinogenesis. Chemoprevention through diet
modification, i.e., increased consumption of plant-based food, has
emerged as a most promising and potentially cost-effective approach to
reducing the risk of cancer. Flavonoids are naturally occurring
polyphenols that are ubiquitous in plant-based food such as fruits,
vegetables and teas as well as in most medicinal plants.
Over 10,000 flavonoids have been characterized over the last few
decades. Flavonoids comprise of several subclasses including flavonols,
flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins, flavanones, flavones, isoflavones and
proanthocyanidins. This review describes the most efficacious plant
flavonoids, including luteolin, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin,
apigenin and chrysin; their hormetic effects; and the molecular basis of
how these flavonoids contribute to the chemoprevention with a focus on
protection against DNA damage caused by various carcinogenic factors.
The present knowledge on the role of flavonoids in chemoprevention can
be used in developing effective dietary strategies and natural health
products targeted for cancer chemoprevention.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
KEYWORDS:
Cancer;
Chemoprevention; DNA damage detection; DNA damage signaling and repair;
Dietary antioxidants; Flavonoids; Genome stability; Polyphenols
