Functions of polyphenols and its anticancer properties in biomedical research: a narrative review

Abstract

Cancer is a major health concern as the incidence is growing worldwide and still lacks successful therapies. Plant-derived functional foods are getting considerable attention, primarily due to their safety and therapeutic potential. Polyphenols are a group of mostly natural, water-soluble organic compounds. Here, we review the functions of selected polyphenols and their anticancer properties on numerous cancer cell lines and their mechanisms. The literature search was performed using the electronic database PubMed, Google scholar up to June 2020, with the following keywords—polyphenol, polyphenol anticancer, quercetin anticancer, resveratrol anticancer, curcumin anticancer, and kaempferol anticancer. Chemical structures of the selected polyphenols were obtained using the ChemDraw program. The initial search identified 40,554 polyphenols papers and among that, 2,559 were limited to polyphenol and cancer, 987 quercetin and cancer, 2,174 curcumin and cancer, 1,079 resveratrol and cancer, and 226 were limited to kaempferol and cancer. A total of 84 papers are included in this review paper. Most studies report the multiple anticarcinogenic properties of plant-derived polyphenols, including its inhibitory effects on the proliferation of cancer cells, tumor expansion, angiogenesis, inflammation, and metastasis. Besides, some studies shows potential synergistic effects when polyphenol treatment combined with chemotherapeutic agents. Anticancer effects of polyphenolic compounds like quercetin, curcumin, resveratrol, and kaempferol are investigated on numerous cancer cell lines and have shown prominent results. The present review provides a direction to determine the anticarcinogenic ability of the selected polyphenols in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, the use of polyphenols in cancer treatment should be investigated in-depth in the future.

Introduction

Cancer is described as a series of complex processes involving impaired cell death, unregulated cell proliferation, and changes in cell physiology, which often leads to malignant tumor formation resulting in metastasis being invaded by distant tissues (1). The incidence of cancer and mortality is rising rapidly around the world. According to GLOBOCON, an estimation of 18.1 million new cancer cases and 9.6 million cancer-related deaths cancer has been reported in 2018 (2). The causes are complex but focus on both population growth and aging as well as shifts in the prevalence and distribution of major cancer risk factors, including socio-economic development (3). Multi-stage carcinogenesis is a commonly accepted concept of cancer development and is divided functionally into three stages: initiation, promotion, and progression (4,5). Current therapies such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy have drawbacks, including drug resistance in cancers to anticancer medications and adverse radiotherapy outcomes (6,7).

Over the past centuries, pharmacological systems all over cultures have professed and supported the use of edible substances, particularly plant-derived ones, to treat and prevent diseases, thereby creating knowledge of the potential of natural agents known as phytochemicals as anticarcinogenic agents for cancer (8,9). Almost 47% of the anticancer drugs available on the market today are derivatives of natural products (10). Phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, are the most effective secondary plant-derived metabolites for cancer treatment (11,12).

Natural polyphenols are organic chemicals derived from plants, distinguished structurally having two or more phenol units (13). Numerous studies have been carried out on polyphenols to examine their possible health benefits, involving defense against oxidative stress, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, and aging (14). These polyphenols can exert anticancer effects through a broad range of mechanisms, that includes cancer cell removal by modification of signaling pathways, inhibition of cell cycle events, and apoptosis induction. Polyphenols also regulate the activities of enzymes involved in tumor cell proliferation. Recent studies are implicating natural polyphenols and their anti-cancer potential through a wide range of properties, e.g., antiangiogenic, antimetastasis, DNA-interaction, and others (15,16).

In this review, we summarize selected examples from the recent literature to show the potential of naturally derived polyphenols as anticancer agents.

Classification of polyphenols

Polyphenols are listed according to the number of phenol rings and the structural elements that bind them together. The classified groups include phenolic acids, stilbenes, lignans, and flavonoids. Flavonoids have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are found in legumes, fruits, vegetables, green tea, and red wine. They are subdivided into six classes: anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, and flavanols (13,17). Flavonols are the most ubiquitous flavonoids that are abundant in fruits and leafy vegetables (14). The key members are quercetin and kaempferol, and the most abundant sources include onions, curly kale, leeks, and broccoli (17). Flavones consists chiefly of glycosides of luteolin and apigenin (16). Flavanones are found in citrus, tomatoes, and other aromatic plants like mint. Isoflavones are flavonoids possessing structural similarities with estrogens and are mostly found in leguminous plants. The primary source of isoflavones in the human diet is soya and its processed products. Among phenolic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids are found in tea, cinnamon, coffee, kiwis, blueberries, apples, plums, and cherries (14). Stilbenes are found in meager quantities in the human diet. Resveratrol is one of the well-studied polyphenols for anticarcinogenic effects in medicinal plants (18). Lignans are found in flax seeds, grains, legumes, cereals, algae, fruits, and certain vegetables (19). Anthocyanins occur in all tissues of plants, including stems, leaves, flowers, roots, and fruits. Flavanols are found in different types of fruits, chocolate, and green tea (17). The overall classification of polyphenols is illustrated in Table 1.

Table 1. Classification of polyphenols.

Classification	Representative members
Flavonoids
Anthocyanins	Delphinidin, pelargonidin, cyanidin, malvidin, aurantinidin, peonidin, petunidin, rosinidin
Flavanols	Epicatechin, epigallocatechin, EGCG, procyanidins, prodelphinidins
Flavanones	Hesperidin, naringenin, butin, eriodictyol, homoeriodictyol, isosakuranetin Naringin, pinocembrin, poncirin, sakuranetin Sakuranin, sterubin, pinostrobin
Flavones	Apigenin, chrysin, luteolin, acacetin, genkwanin, echioidinin, baicalein, oroxylon, wogonin, geraldone, tithonine, diosmetin, pilloin, velutin, scutellarein, hispidulin, sorbifolin, pectolinarigenin, zapotin, tricetin, jaceosidin, sinensetin, onopordin, tangeretin
Flavonols	Quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin,isorhamnetin, galangin, azaleatin, fisetin, gossypetin, kaempferide, morin, natsudaidain, pachypodol, rhamnazin
Isoflavonoids	Genistein, daidzein, formononetin
Phenolic acids
Hydroxybenoic acid	Ellagic acid, gallic acid, syringic acid
Hydroxycinnamic acid	Ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid
Lignans	Sesamin, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside, pinoresinol, lariciresinol, syringaresinol, hydroxymatairesinol, matairesinol
Stilbenes	Resveratrol, pterostilbene, piceatannol, viniferins

Polyphenols as an anticancer agent

The relationship between polyphenol consumption and cancer risk occurrence is regularly assessed and meta-analyzed over the last 10–15 years. In a meta-analysis of prospective studies, isoflavone intake was associated with a 19% reduction in the risk of gastric cancer (20). Recent epidemiologic studies have indicated a decrease in breast cancer risk by soy product consumption (21). The consumption of isoflavone and flavonol was correlated with an estimated 30% reduction in the incidence of ovarian and endometrial cancers across cohort and case-control studies (22). Intake of soy isoflavones and soy-based foods associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer in two Asian population meta-analyses, one showing a 23% reduction in risk from 13 case-control studies and four prospective studies. Also, a high intake of total soy products was linked to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer in a case-control Korean survey, particularly at the distal and rectal sites (22). A meta-analysis of green tea polyphenols showed a 19% reduction in the risk of prostate cancer only when seven or more cups of green tea were ingested daily (23). A case-control study in Canada reported beneficial effects of a high dietary intake of total flavonoids on lung cancer risks (24,25). Overall, polyphenols compounds are attractive molecules for cancer treatment, and some of the most studied polyphenols are described briefly in the following sections. We present the following article in accordance with the Narrative Review reporting checklist (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tcr-20-2359).

Methods

The literature review was done using the electronic database PubMed and Google scholar up to June 2020, with the following keywords: polyphenol, polyphenol anticancer, quercetin anticancer, resveratrol anticancer, curcumin anticancer, and kaempferol anticancer. The search did not include editorials, letters, comments, and conference letters. Paper search was limited to the English language. All data were extracted in a standard pre-determined format, including information on first author’s name, publication year, polyphenols, and its anticancer effects on different cell lines. The articles included in the study were full-length original articles and focused on various cancer cell lines. Chemical structures of the polyphenols are provided using the ChemDraw program.

Results

The process of the study selection was shown in Figure 1. Of the 40,554 polyphenol papers were found, 2,559 were limited to polyphenol and cancer, 987 quercetin and cancer, 2,174 curcumin and cancer, 1,079 resveratrol with cancer, and 226 were limited to kaempferol and cancer. A total of 84 papers were selected for discussion in this review paper. The chosen articles included original research articles. The data about the anticancer effect of polyphenol on different cancer cell lines are extracted and summarized in Table 2.

Figure 1.

Summary of search strategy employed.

Table 2. In vitro and in vivo anti-cancer effect of selected polyphenols.

Cancer	Cell type	Main effects	Reference
Quercetin
Hepatocellular cancer	HepG2, SMMC-7721	Inducing apoptosis, decrease tumor growth	(26)
Breast cancer	MCF-7	Induction of apoptosis	(27)
Colon cancer	HCT116	Inducing apoptosis	(28)
Gastric cancer	BGC-823	Inducing apoptosis	(29)
Primary effusion lymphoma cancer	BC3, BCBL1 and BC1	Induction of apoptosis, autophagy, inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway	(30)
Cervical cancer	HeLa	Inducing apoptosis, autophagy	(31)
Hepatocellular cancer	LM3	Inducing apoptosis, G2/M cell cycle arrest, autophagy, inhibits JAK/STAT3 pathway	(32)
Pancreatic cancer	PATU-8988, PANC-1	Inhibiting metastasis and STAT3 pathway	(33)
Prostate cancer	PC-3	Inhibiting angiogenesis and tumor growth	(34)
Retinoblastoma	Y79	Inhibits migration, angiogenesis and inducing apoptosis	(35)
Rhesus choroids-retina cancer	RF/6A	Inducing apoptosis, inhibits angiogenesis	(36)
Breast cancer	MCF-7	Inhibits xenograft growth, angiogenesis by calcineurin/NFAT pathway	(37)
Colon cancer	HT29, CT26	Inducing apoptosis, inhibits metastasis, MAPK pathway	(38)
Curcumin
Colon cancer	HT29	Inducing apoptosis	(39)
Leukemia	CEM, HSB2, Jurkat and Molt-4	Inducing apoptosis, Inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway	(40)
Lung cancer	A549	Induction of apoptosis, suppression of PI3K/AKT pathway	(41)
Ovarian cancer	SK-OV-3, A2780	Inducing apoptosis, autophagy and inhibits AKT/mTOR/p70S6K pathway	(42)
Colon cancer	HCT116, SW620	Induce autophagy	(43)
Pancreatic cancer	PANC1, BxPC3	G2/M cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and autophagy	(44)
Gastric cancer	AGS	G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, Ras/ERK pathway	(45)
Prostate cancer	DU145	Inhibiting metastasis	(46)
Lung cancer	801D	Inhibiting metastasis	(47)
Mesothelioma	RN5	Inhibits angiogenesis, tumor growth	(48)
Lung cancer	NCI-H446, NCI-1688	Inhibits metastasis, angiogenesis and STAT3 pathway	(49)
Breast cancer	MCF-7	Inhibits metastasis and angiogenesis	(50)
Prostate cancer	LNCaP	Inducing apoptosis, inhibits angiogenesis, metastasis	(51)
Resveratrol
Gastric cancer	SGC7901	Inducing apoptosis	(52)
Prostate cancer	TRAMP-C1, TRAMP-C2, and TRAMP-C3	Inducing apoptosis	(53)
Oral cancer	SCC-VII, SCC-25, and YD-38	Inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest, apoptosis	(54)
Melanoma	A375SM	Inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest, apoptosis	(55)
Hepatocellular cancer	MHCC97-H	Autophagy, Inhibits PI3K/AKT pathway	(56)
Melanoma	B16-F10, A375	Inducing apoptosis, autophagy, inhibits PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway	(57)
Hepatocellular cancer	Huh7	Inhibits metastasis, JNK pathway	(58)
Colon cancer	SW480, SW620	Inhibits metastasis, AKT/GSK-3β/Snail pathway	(59)
Colorectal cancer	HCT116, Caco2	Inhibiting angiogenesis	(60)
Melanoma	B16	Inhibits angiogenesis	(61)
Breast cancer	MDA-MB-231	Induces apoptosis, inhibits angiogenesis in vivo	(62)
Kaempferol
Ovarian cancer	OVACAR-3	Inducing apoptosis, inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and STAT3 pathway	(63)
Colon cancer	HT-29	Inducing apoptosis	(64)
Gastric cancer	AGS, SNU-638	Induce autophagy, IRE1-JNK-CHOP and AMPKα/ULK1 pathway	(65)
Hepatocellular cancer	HepG2	Inducing autophagy, ER stress-CHOP pathway	(66)
Colon cancer	HT-29	G2/M cell cycle arrest	(67)
Breast cancer	MDA-MB-453	Induction of apoptosis, G2/M cell cycle arrest	(68)
Lung cancer	A549	Inducing apoptosis, autophagy, PI3K/AKT pathway	(69)
Osteosarcoma	U-2 OS	Inhibits metastasis, blocks MAPK pathway	(70)
Tongue cancer	SCC-4	Inhibit metastasis, ERK pathway	(71)
Ovarian cancer	OVCAR-3, A2780/CP70	Inhibits angiogenesis	(72)
Cholangiocarcinoma	HCCC9810, QBC939	Inducing apoptosis, inhibits PI3K/AKT and tumor growth	(73)

Discussion

Quercetin

The flavonol quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone; Figure 2) is one of the most copious naturally occurring polyphenols. Quercetin is found in several plant parts (leaves, grains, and fruits) as well as in foods and beverages, including tea and red wine (26,27). Quercetin is identified to have a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic activities, and anti-inflammatory. Quercetin functions as an antioxidant at low concentrations and induces chemopreventive action. However, high levels of quercetin act as a pro-oxidant and may cause a chemotherapeutic effect (28,29). The recommended regular doses of quercetin in dietary supplements are typically in the range of up to 1,000 mg (30).

Figure 2.

Chemical structure of quercetin.

Growth inhibition by quercetin and antineoplastic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) evaluated in HepG2 and SMCC-7721 (human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line). Dose-dependent cell growth inhibition by quercetin in both the cell lines and increased 5-FU efficacy. Furthermore, quercetin modifies the expression of apoptosis-dependent proteins, reduces tumor growth, and increases 5-FU output in the mouse xenograft model (31). In another study, quercetin-treated MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell line) cells showed dose- and time-dependent decreased proliferation and apoptosis induction by Bax upregulation and Bcl-2 downregulation (32). Quercetin induced apoptosis and inhibits hypoxia-induced 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in HCT116 (human colon cancer cell line) cells (33). Quercetin-treated BGC-823 (human gastric cancer cell line) cells displayed morphological changes like loss of attachment, chromatin condensation, shrinkage, cell rounding, and condensed nucleus (34). On the other hand, BC3, BCBL1, and BC1 (primary effusion lymphoma cell line) cells induced apoptosis treated with quercetin inhibits phosphoinositide 3-kinases/serine/threonine-specific protein kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway, Wnt/β-catenin pathway and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation and autophagy in PEL cells (35). Hela (cervical cancer cell line) cells showed inhibited proliferation, induced autophagy by LC3B-I conversion into LC3B-II in a concentration-dependent way, and apoptosis significantly promoted by quercetin and autophagy inhibitors (36). Similarly, quercetin inhibited cell viability, the early apoptotic population in a dose-dependently, and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in LM3 (human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line) cells. Further, it inhibited the activation of the Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/STAT3 pathway, migration, and invasion, reduced tumor growth, and induced autophagy by overexpression of LC3B and decreased p62 (37).

Quercetin decreases cell viability in PATU-8988 and PANC-1 (pancreatic cancer cell line) with the expression of neural cadherin (N-cadherin), epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), vimentin, hinders migration and invasion, reverses interleukin 6 (IL-6)-induced increase in malignant pancreatic cells by inhibiting the signaling pathway STAT3 (38). The exposure to HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cell line) and PC-3 (human prostate cancer androgen-independent cell line) cells to quercetin caused dose-dependent and time-dependent decrease in proliferation. Further, quercetin inhibited the migration and invasion, angiogenesis, and tumor tissue in xenograft models (74). Similarly, quercetin also reduced proliferation, migration, and invasion, induced apoptosis, and blocked angiogenesis by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in Y79 cells (human retinoblastoma cell line) (75). RF/6A (Rhesus choroids-retina endothelial cell line) cells treated with quercetin inhibited proliferation, cell migration, restrained tube formation in Matrigel assay, increased apoptotic rate slightly, and inhibited angiogenesis (76). Quercetin inhibits MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell line) xenograft growth in mice, demonstrating the antitumor and antiangiogenic effect of quercetin on breast cancer in vivo and inhibited angiogenesis via activating the calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) pathway (77). Apoptosis was induced in HT29 (human colon adenocarcinoma cell line) and CT26 (mouse colon carcinoma cell line) after quercetin treatment. CT26 cells shown activated extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathways, inhibit migration and invasion by controlling the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, β-catenin, snail, and in vivo metastasis (39). These studies indicate that quercetin has profound anticancer effects, based on its ability to suppress proliferation, induce apoptosis, trigger cell cycle arrest in numerous cancer cell lines, and can be used as a potent anticancer agent.

Curcumin

Curcumin [1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione] is a hydrophobic polyphenol (Figure 3), bright-yellow, present in the rhizome of Curcuma longa, a perennial herb in the family Zingiberaceae (40). Curcumin belongs to a chemical class of polyphenols has been shown to have therapeutic benefits in several chronic diseases including arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases, metabolic syndrome, liver disease, obesity, inflammation, and in several cancer types (41). Curcumin shown to have significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticoagulant, antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic, and anti-infective effects. Curcumin has also demonstrated significant healing properties for wounds (42,43). Since then, the scientific interest in the use of curcumin for health benefits has increased.

Figure 3.

Chemical structure of curcumin.

The recent study indicated that curcumin could suppress proliferation significantly and induce apoptosis in HT-29 (human colon cancer cell line) cells through the mitochondrial cell death pathway. Curcumin decreases, Bcl-xL/Bad, Bcl-2/Bax ratios, preceded by caspase-3 activation (44). CEM, HSB2, Jurkat, and Molt-4 (human T-leukemia cell lines) cells treated with curcumin caused dose-dependent growth inhibition, induce apoptosis, inhibit PI3K/AKT, and release of cytochrome c, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and cleaved caspase-3 (45). Similarly, curcumin exposure to A549 cells (human non-small lung cancer cell line) prevented cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, elevated caspase-3 activity, upregulation of miR192-5p, and suppression of the PI3K/AKT signaling (46). Curcumin repressed proliferation of SK-OV-3 and A2780 cells (human ovarian cancer cell lines), stimulated apoptosis-induced autophagy with many autophagic vesicles and increased expression of Atg3, Beclin, and LC3B-II protein. Further, it inhibited the activity of the AKT/mTOR/p70S6K signaling pathway (47). Curcumin-treated HCT116 and SW620 cells (human colon cancer cell lines) showed growth inhibition followed by autophagy induction with LC3B, P-62 protein regulation, yes-associated protein 1 (YAP) suppression and can reverse the effect of YAP on colon cancer cells (48). Curcumin-exposed PANC1 and BxPC3 cells (human pancreatic cell lines) showed suppressed cell growth, triggered G2/M phase cell arrest, autophagy, and apoptosis (49). Similarly, cell growth of curcumin-treated AGS cells (human gastric cancer cell line) was inhibited, caused apoptosis and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest with the Ras/ERK signaling pathway (50).

DU145 cells (human prostate cancer cell line) exposed to curcumin reported growth inhibition in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, curcumin inhibited migration, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2) expression, then inhibited metastasis in a prostate cancer cell line (51). Likewise, Curcumin-treated 801D (human lung cancer cell line) cells suppressed cell growth and can effectively inhibit epidermal growth factor (EGF) or transforming growth factor (TGF-β1)-induced migration, invasion, and the Rac1-dependent signaling pathway. Curcumin also inhibited cell invasion through MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression in vivo (78). RN5 cells (murine malignant mesothelioma cell line) exposed to curcumin cause growth inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner. Further, it decreases tumor growth in vivo, and then angiogenesis was confirmed by immunostaining (79). On the other hand, NCI-H446 and NCI-1688 (human lung cancer cell lines) treated with curcumin exhibited cell proliferation. Curcumin also inhibited the expression of MMP-2, MMP-7, VEGF, Bcl-XL, Survivin, and ICAM-1 in cells confirming the inhibition migration, angiogenesis, and invasion through suppression of the STAT3 (80). Comparative study of BDMC-A (an analog of curcumin) and curcumin-treated MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell line) cells shown significant downregulation of marker genes related to angiogenesis, metastasis, and invasiveness (52). In vivo experiments have shown that curcumin sensitizes TRAIL-resistant LNCaP cells (human prostate cancer cell line) through various mechanisms. It stimulates death receptors, upregulates proapoptotic Bax members, Bak, suppresses antiapoptotic Bcl-xL proteins, and further inhibits VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9 activation, which plays a vital role in metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis (53). These research studies confirm that curcumin has a strong anticancer effect on the diverse cancer cell lines, and it can be considered in drug development for cancer treatment.

Resveratrol

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene; Figure 4), a polyphenolic compound which occurs naturally, is a stilbene found in berries, grapes, peanuts, and other plant sources (54). Resveratrol have antioxidative, cardio-protective, estrogenic/anti-estrogenic, anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties (55). This compound is also well known for its anticancer effects. Also, several laboratory studies have shown that resveratrol supports a wide variety of diseases, including cardiovascular disorders (CVDs), diabetes, obesity, cancers, hepatic diseases, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Resveratrol has shown protective effects on a variety of cancers such as breast, prostate, colorectal, lung, ovarian, cervical, hepatic, and gastric cancer (56).

Figure 4.

Chemical structure of resveratrol.

Resveratrol suppresses the dose-dependent growth of cells with SGC7901 (human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line) and induces apoptosis with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Resveratrol treatment to SGC7901 cells caused DNA damage with higher γ-H2AX levels and reduced ku70 in western blot analysis (57). TRAMP-C1, TRAMP-C2, and TRAMP-C3 (murine prostate cancer cell lines) cells treated with resveratrol caused mitochondrial-mediated caspase-dependent apoptosis and increased expression of γ-H2AX by sensitizing DNA damage (58). SCC-VII, SCC-25, and YD-38 (oral squamous cancer cell lines) cells treated with resveratrol inhibit cell growth, G2/M phase cell cycle arrest regulating the cell cycle proteins, and induces apoptosis (59). Similarly, resveratrol treated A375SM cells (human malignant melanoma cell line) reported the G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, elevated ROS generation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress leading to apoptosis (60). MHCC97-H (human hepatocellular cancer cell line) cells exposed to resveratrol causes growth inhibition and mortality through autophagy induction with the expression of Beclin1, LC3B II/I, via regulating the p53 and PI3K/AKT pathways (61). Likewise, B16-F10 (murine melanoma cell line) and A375 (human melanoma cell line) cells treated with resveratrol showed reduced cell viability, induce apoptosis, and inhibits invasion and migration with increased cleaved caspase-9 levels in A375 cells. Resveratrol also induces autophagy in B16-F10 cells with increased expression of Beclin1 and LC3B-II/LC3B-I proteins and significantly reduced levels of p62 protein. Further, it inhibits the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway (62).

The cytotoxic effect of resveratrol evaluated on Huh7 (human hepatocellular cancer cell line) cells revealed reduced migration, invasion, and protein levels of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (u-PA) in a concentration-dependent manner. Resveratrol can inhibit the phosphorylation and binding activities of JNK 1/2, causing down-regulation of expression of u-PA to prevent metastasis. Resveratrol exhibited an inhibitory effect on many essential metastasis stages (81). Resveratrol-treated cells SW480 and SW620 (human colon cancer cell lines) inhibits invasion and metastasis of colon cancer cells by reversing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) via the AKT/GSK-3β/Snail signaling pathway (82). Resveratrol exhibits a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on HCT116 and Caco2 (human colorectal carcinoma cell lines) cells.

Further, it induces insulin expression, intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathway decreases VEGF levels in treated cells. The enhancement of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) protein expression resulted in the inhibition of VEGF expression (83). Likewise, B16 (murine melanoma cell line) cell treated with resveratrol together with antineoplastic drug fluorouracil inhibits migration, reduce VEGF levels, and angiogenesis (84). MDA-MB-231 (human breast adenocarcinoma cell line) tumors treated with resveratrol induces apoptosis and inhibits xenografts angiogenesis in vivo (63). In general, these studies indicate that resveratrol has anticancer properties that could be used as an effective anticancer agent.

Kaempferol

Kaempferol [3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; Figure 5], is extracted from tea and found in various widely known vegetables and fruits, including broccoli, beans, gooseberries, kale, strawberries, grapes, citrus fruits, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, grapefruits and apples (64). It has also been recognized in various medicinal plants as Acacia nilotica (L.), Aloe vera (L.), Crocus sativus (L.), Ginkgo biloba (L.), Hypericum perforatum (L.), Phyllanthus emblica (L.), Ribes nigrum (L.), and Rosmarinus officinalis (L.) (65). Kaempferol and its glycosylated derivatives are neuro-protective, cardio-protective, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and have anticancer functions (66). Several edible plants contain kaempferol, and the human dietary intake of kaempferol is reported to be up to around 10 mg/day (67).

Figure 5.

Chemical structure of kaempferol.

Kaempferol triggers antiproliferative effects on OVACAR-3 cells (human ovarian cancer cell line) and affects cell viability. Further, apoptosis percentage also increased in a concentration-dependently supported by the regulation of apoptotic proteins like cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-9. Kaempferol triggers inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR and STAT3 signaling (68). Similarly, kaempferol treatment triggers apoptosis in HT-29 cells (human colon cancer cell line) through both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, changes the expression Bcl-2 family proteins that lead to mitochondrial membrane depolarization and release cytochrome c from the mitochondria. In cytosol cytochrome c activates caspase-9, further allows caspase-3 activation (69). AGS and SNU-638 cells (human gastric cancer cell lines) exposed to kaempferol encouraged autophagy and cell death, by conversion of LC3B-I to LC3B-II, the decrease p62 via the activation of the IRE1-JNK-CHOP signaling, ER stress, and AMPKα/ULK1 pathway (70). Kaempferol induced autophagy in HepG2 (human hepatocarcinoma cell line) due to increase expression of Atg5, Atg7, and Beclin1 proteins. It promoted a conversion from LC3B I to LC3B II in a dose- and time-dependent manner via the ER stress- C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) pathway (71). HT-29 (human colon cancer cell line) cell treatment with kaempferol inhibits proliferation, induces G2/M cell cycle arrest by modulating the expression of cell cycle proteins time-dependent manner (72). Likewise, kaempferol treatment to MDA-MB-453 (human breast cancer cell line) causes G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest via downregulated CDK1 and apoptosis via modulation of the p53 pathway (73). A549 (human lung cancer cell line) cells treated with kaempferol showed inhibition of cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis, autophagy by increased expression of Beclin-1, and the ratio of LC3B-II/I and up-regulated the expression of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and inactivated PI3K/AKT pathway (85).

U-2 OS cells (human osteosarcoma cell line) exposed to kaempferol inhibits invasion, migration, and adhesion in a concentration-dependently. It further reduces activities of MMP-2, MMP-9, uPA, inhibits the DNA-binding activity of activator protein-1 (AP-1), and blocks the activation of MAPKs in U-2 OS cells (86). Similarly, kaempferol treated SCC-4 cells (human tongue squamous cell cancer cell line) suppressed cell invasion and migration in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, inhibits AP-1 activity, reduces MMP-2 expression, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, and showed antimetastasis potential (87). OVCAR-3 and A2780/CP70 (human ovarian cancer cell lines) treated with kaempferol inhibits VEGF expression, tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, and HIF-1α protein expression in vivo (88). HCCC9810 and QBC939 (human cholangiocarcinoma cancer cell lines) treatment with kaempferol inhibits the proliferation, reduces colony formation, and induces apoptosis. Furthermore, it suppresses the migration, invasion, PI3K/AKT pathway and affects the apoptosis- and invasion-related proteins by inhibiting tumor growth (89). These studies suggest that kaempferol has a significant anticancer impact on various cancer cell lines, and further studies may assist in exploring their application for cancer treatment.

Limitations of polyphenols as anticancer agent

Polyphenolic compounds, which are abundant in dietary sources, show great promise in treating cancer, especially in consideration of their safe consumption. However, one of the major concern with using polyphenols as anticancer agents individually is their poor bioavailability in the human body. In addition, their interactions with other natural compounds in a diet may hinder or complicate consistency of their efficacy. Therefore, specifically designed combinations of several polyphenols or combinations of polyphenols with other natural agents aimed at defined biological targets will expand metabolic effects of the constituents of such mixtures in controlled and reproducible ways (14).

Summary

The desire for new successful drugs capable of battling cancer is still a challenge in medical science. Natural organisms (e.g., plants, bacteria, fungi) provide active molecules with a potential application in medicine for the management of several diseases, including cancer. The health effects of polyphenols depend upon both their respective intakes and bioavailability. The current review of some targeted polyphenol compounds (quercetin, curcumin, resveratrol, and kaempferol) and anticancer effects in various cancer cell lines is provided. The mode of action included mainly modulation of molecular events and signaling pathways linked to cell survival, proliferation, metastasis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Therefore, future research directions should extend the reach of natural compounds as healthy, safe, effective, and cost-effective therapeutic solutions to cancer. The in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects of reported polyphenol compounds are illustrated in Table 2.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.