Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Oct 1.
Published in final edited form as: Semin Cancer Biol. 2016 Apr 23;40-41:82–99. doi: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2016.04.002

Table 5.

Clinical trials conducted with dietary phytochemicals.

Dietary Agent Molecular mechanism Disease conditions Dose Endpoints/Outcome Ref.
Curcumin DNMT inhibitor Prostate cancer 0.1 g/day Curcumin modulates PSA production in combination with other isoflavones 249
DNMT inhibitor Colorectal cancer 0.036–0.18 g/day Pilot study shows safe administration in patients up to an equivalent dose of 180 mg. It has low bioavailability in humans and undergoes intestinal metabolism. 250
Catechin DNMT inhibitor Prostate cancer NA May decrease risk for advanced prostate cancer. 251
Epicatechin DNMT inhibitor 25.5 mg Studies finds low bioavailability and/or bioaccumulation of green tea polyphenols in prostate tissue with statistically insignificant changes in systemic and tissue biomarkers. Green tea polyphenol activity may be indirect or need evaluation with longer intervention durations, repeated dosing, or in patients at earlier stages of the disease. 252
Epicatechin-gallate DNMT inhibitor 39.8 mg
Epigalocatechin-3-gallate DNMT inhibitor 200 mg
Genistein DNMT inhibitor Prostate cancer 30 mg Genistein intake by early prostate cancer patients modulates several biomarkers and has an inhibitory effect on androgen related biomarker. 253
Decreases MBD1, MBD4, MeCP2 expression May induce cell cycle arrest and inhibit proliferation 254
Daidzein HDAC inhibitor Prostate cancer 0.02 mg Safety and tolerability of isoflavone intake are proven. The results support the value of isoflavone treatment for prostate cancer risk reduction. 254
Indole-3 carbinol HDAC inhibitor Prostate cancer 225 mg BR-DIM was well tolerated in prostate cancer patients. Showed variable results on PSA levels. 255
Lycopene DNMT inhibitor Prostate cancer 20–25 μM Prostatic lycopene levels were low after supplementation in prostate cancer patients and no change in rate of HGPIN progression to prostate cancer. 256
Quercetin DNMT inhibitor Renal cancer 1400 mg/m2 Plasma levels of quercetin inhibited lymphocyte tyrosine kinase activity, with evidence of antitumor activity. 257
Sulforaphane Decreases DNMT expression Prostate cancer 200 μmoles/day PSA levels were not affected significantly. 258

NA, information not available