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. 2018 Nov 12;9(4):403–419. doi: 10.1007/s13167-018-0154-6

Table 1.

Natural substances targeting DNA methylations associated with breast cancer

Phytochemicals/plant foods Mechanism of intervention Type of BC research References
Curcumin Decrease in promoter methylation status (RASSF1A, glutathione S-transferase P1) or DNA methylation activity MCF-7 cells [25, 27]
EGCG, genistein, withaferin A, curcumin, resveratrol, guggulsterone Decrease in DNMT1, DNMT3a, and DNMT3b expressions MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 cells [28]
Sulforaphane Global DNA hypomethylation, decrease in DNMT1 and DNMT3 activity, and m6A RNA methylation MCF-7 MDA-MB 231, and SK-BR-3 cells [29]
Sulforaphane + EGCG ERα promoter hypomethylation and hyperacetylation MDA-MB 231 cells [30]
Sulforaphane PTEN and RARbeta2 promoter hypomethylation MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 cells [31]
Resveratrol + pterostilbene Decrease in DNMTs activity HCC1806 and MDA-MB-157 breast cancer cells [32]
Withaferin A Epigenetic reprogramming through DNA hypermethylation MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 cells [33]
Green tea polyphenols +5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine Decrease in HDAC1, DNMT1, DNMT3b, and MBD4 activity MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 cells [34]
Kazinol Q Inhibition of DNMT1 activity MDA-MB-231 cells [36]
Genistein Decrease in global DNA methylation, DNMT activity, and DNA methylation of several promoters (ATM, APC, PTEN, SERPINB5) MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells [37]
Wild yam root extract Activation of GATA3 gene in ER- cells MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells [35]
Wild thyme Inhibition of DNMT and HDAC activities MDA-MB-231 cells [38]
Isoliquiritigenin Demethylation of WIF1 promoter, decrease in DNMT1 activity Mouse BC model [41]
Olive oil Increase in global DNA methylation Rat BC model [39]
Corn oil Increase in DNMT methylation and promoter methylation of RASSF1A and TIMP3 Rat BC model [39]
Clove buds (mixture of phenolic acids, flavonol glucosides, tannins and phenolic volatile oils – eugenol, acetyl eugenol) Increase in total RASSF1A promoter methylation Rat BC model [40]
Fruits/vegetables Increase in global DNA methylation Hispanic BC survivors [42]
Vegetables Increase in DNA methylation of LINE-1 after 6 and 12 months Hispanic, African American, and Afro-Caribbean overweight and sedentary BC survivors [43]
Folate + cobalamin Hypomethylation of RARB and BRCA1 promoters BC tissue samples of Iranian women [44]
Riboflavin + pyridoxine Hypermethylation of RARB promoter BC tissue samples of Iranian women [44]

EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate; DNMT, DNA methyltransferase; ER, estrogen receptor; HDAC, histone deacetylase; MBD, methyl-CpG-binding domain