Abstract

POLYPHENOLS IN CANCER: SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN PREVENTION OF MAMMARY CARCINOGENESIS

Abhishek Kumar, S. Jha and Shakti P. Pattanayak*

Abstract

Polyphenols are the most abundant naturally occurring dietary antioxidants. Research in their role in chemoprevention has developed quickly over last few decades. This article reviews the recent studies on the prevention of carcinogenesis by polyphenols. Specifically focusing, the preclinical and clinical studies of polyphenols like naringin and daphnetin relevant to their anticancer potential against mammary carcinogenesis. Strong epidemiological evidences and current interest enlighten the benefits and uses of naringin, daphnetin and other polyphenols in various pathological conditions like cancer. This brings many molecules individually or crudely in practices of clinical trials. To establish safety and effectiveness of dietary polyphenols in cancer prevention in humans, 214 polyphenol based clinical trial studies were registered till May 2015 but only two from them are against breast cancer. Various factors affecting pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of these polyphenols are essentially being studied, as these are responsible for individual polyphenolic distribution and effect to specific organs and tissues. Many researchers come out with great discoveries and others are exploring with varying potential of polyphenols and mechanism of their anticancer activity against various cancer including mammary carcinoma. Rather than some common specified class of mechanisms, individual polyphenols exhibit various diversified mechanisms working for their activity against mammary cancer. In-vitro and in-vivo cancer studies give testimony to various hypotheses on protective activities of polyphenols in biological system which may become a base for their access in research and clinical trials against various cancers.

Keywords: Polyphenols, anticancer activity, mammary cancer.