Table 3.
Food components | Effect | Mechanisms of action |
---|---|---|
Flavonoid | Anti-inflammatory | Modulate apoB secretion and cellular cholesterol; help cholesterol levels by raising HDL and lowering LDL cholesterol |
Antioxidant | Stimulate endothelial NO synthase; normalize lipid peroxidation markers | |
Antiaggregation | Inhibit TxA2-mediated responses and dense granule secretion | |
Anticarcinogenic | Promote apoptosis in human pre-B NALM-6 cells and colon cancer cells; inhibit HIF-1α and VEGF expression in ovarian cancer and in lung cancer | |
Antiproliferative | Inhibit the COX-2 and MMPs in lung, prostate, and hepatocellular carcinoma cells; inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and testosterone-induced proliferation of LNCaP cells; inhibit lung colonization by melanoma and sarcoma cell line; inhibit formation of new blood vessels in human breast cancer cells | |
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Anthocyanins | Antioxidant | Protect biomembranes from peroxidation by trapping peroxyl radicals in the cytosol; chelate metal ions like Cu2; ability in chelating metal ions like Cu2; form an ascorbic acid metal-anthocyanin complex (copigment) |
Antimutagenicity | Form a cyanidin-DNA copigmentation complex; inhibit the reverse mutation induced by heterocyclic amines in microsomal activation systems | |
Growth inhibition | Inhibit the tyrosine kinase activity of the EGFR and the activation of the GAL4-Elk-1 fusion protein | |
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Carotenoids | Antioxidant | React with singlet molecular oxygen and peroxyl radicals |
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Vitamin C | Blow-flow increase | Enhance generation of NO; reduce nitrite; stabilize atherosclerotic plaques (due to effect on collagen synthesis) |
Antioxidant | Reduce the affinity of LDL-bound apoB protein for transition metal ions; quench aqueous ROS and RNS, decreasing their bioavailability in the plasma; reduce potentially damaging ROS, forming resonance-stabilized and relatively stable ascorbate free radicals; attenuate LDL-oxidation and protection of human vascular smooth muscle cells against apoptosis | |
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Hydroxycinnamic acids | Antioxidant | Effect on phase II detoxification cascade; inhibit of superoxide dismutase and catalase; suppress of PG synthesis and cyclooxygenase-2 |
Anticarcinogenic | Prevent the tumor onset and protect the biochemical and molecular abnormalities in mammary, buccal pouch, colon, and skin cancers |
EGFR: epidermal growth-factor receptor; HDL: high-density lipoproteins; HIF-1α: hypoxia-inducible factor 1α; LDL: low-density lipoproteins; MMP: matrix metalloproteinase; NO: nitric oxide; PG: prostaglandins; RNS: reactive nitrogen species; ROS: reactive oxygen species.