Cancer Chemoprevention Through Dietary Antioxidants: Progress and Promise

Abstract

It is estimated that nearly one-third of all cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented through appropriate dietary modification. Various dietary antioxidants have shown considerable promise as effective agents for cancer prevention by reducing oxidative stress which has been implicated in the development of many diseases, including cancer. Therefore, for reducing the incidence of cancer, modifications in dietary habits, especially by increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants, are increasingly advocated. Accumulating research evidence suggests that many dietary factors may be used alone or in combination with traditional chemotherapeutic agents to prevent the occurrence of cancer, their metastatic spread, or even to treat cancer. The reduced cancer risk and lack of toxicity associated with high intake of fruits and vegetables suggest that specific concentrations of antioxidant agents from these dietary sources may produce cancer chemopreventive effects without causing significant levels of toxicity. This review presents an extensive analysis of the key findings from studies on the effects of dietary antioxidants such as tea polyphenols, curcumin, genistein, resveratrol, lycopene, pomegranate, and lupeol against cancers of the skin, prostate, breast, lung, and liver. This research is also leading to the identification of novel cancer drug targets.

NF-κB signaling, liver disease and hepatoprotective agents

“…Antioxidants Natural antioxidants such as flavanoids, polyphenols, certain vitamins (for example, VHE) and terpenoids have drawn great attention from both the scientific community and the general public, owing to their putative ability to attenuate oxidative stress and thereby suppress cancer development (Khan et al, 2008). Oxidative stress is caused by a cellular excess of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species, including superoxides, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite, which can be generated by inflammation or upon loss of natural antioxidants that depend on NF-kB and p38 activation (Sakurai et al, 2008).…”

Protective Effect of Crocus sativus Stigma Extract and Crocin (trans-crocin 4) on Methyl Methanesulfonate–Induced DNA Damage in Mice Organs

“…Saffron and crocin may also decrease the MMS-induced genotoxicity by enhancing the systems involve in detoxification and mutagen=carcinogen inactivation. It has been shown that antioxidants reduced chemically induced carcinogenesis (Khan et al, 2008) and inhibited DNA lesions induced by alkylating agents such as MMS (Kaya, 2003;Arranz et al, 2007). Saffron and its carotenoids scavenge free radicals and thereby may protect cells from oxidative stress (Bors et al, 1982;Abdullaev, 1993;Nair et al, 1995;Rios et al, 1996;Pham et al, 2000;Assimopoulou et al, 2005).…”

Aerosolized Bexarotene Inhibits Lung Tumorigenesis without Increasing Plasma Triglyceride and Cholesterol Levels in Mice

“…Chemoprevention is also considered to be an important approach to decrease the incidence of lung cancer. Many natural and synthetic compounds have been identified as having potential cancer chemopreventive effects (5).…”