Flavonoids Effects on Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Murine Models: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer deaths worldwide. It occurs primarily as manifestation of other pathological processes, such as viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and toxin exposure that affect directly the cellular process. Studies were selected from PubMed and Scopus databases according to the PRISMA statement. The research filters were constructed using three parameters: flavonoids, hepatocellular carcinoma, and animal model. The bias analysis of the 34 selected works was done using the ARRIVE guidelines. The most widely used flavonoid in the studies was epigallocatechin gallate extracted from green tea. In general, the treatment with different flavonoids presented inhibition of tumor growth and antiangiogenic, antimetastatic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. The bias analysis evidenced the absence of methodological processes in all studies, such as the age or weight of the animals, the method of flavonoids' extraction, or the experimental designs, analytical methods, and outcome measures. It has been known that flavonoids have a protective effect against HCC. However, the absence or incomplete characterization of the animal models, treatment protocols, and phytochemical and toxicity analyses impaired the internal validity of the individual studies, making it difficult to determine the effectiveness of plant-derived products in the treatment of HCC.

Evaluating Antitumor and Antioxidant Activities of Yellow Monascus Pigments from Monascus ruber Fermentation

“…Therefore, it is necessary to develop effective antitumor agents with reduced side effects to treat breast cancer. Drugs from natural resources have shown possible anticancer effects, with mechanisms of inhibiting angiogenesis [15], decreasing cell growth and proliferation, apoptosis [16], and preventing oxidation [17].…”

Anti-Cancer Effects of Green Tea Polyphenols Against Prostate Cancer

“…Further, other components of green tea might play important roles in the anti-cancer effects. For example, flavonoids from green tea were reported to inhibit carcinogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis in several cancers [132,133]. Moreover, quercetin was recognized as one of the green tea flavonoids, and it is reported to induce apoptosis in PC xenograft model injected androgen-sensitive LAPC-4 cells.…”

So Uncommon and so Singular, but Underexplored: An Updated Overview on Ethnobotanical Uses, Biological Properties and Phytoconstituents of Sardinian Endemic Plants

“…N-hexane and methanol extracts of Santolina corsica exhibited anti-proliferative activity on uterine cervical (HeLa), alveolar (A549), prostate (PC3), luminal and basal breast (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231) cancer cell lines [110]. This activity could be attibutable to the presence of some compounds, such as α-pinene [111] and limonene [112], as well as flavonoids [113], quercetin [114], known for their anti-proliferative effects. It is worth noting that anti-proliferative activities were specific for cancer cells, since neither of the two extracts induced cytotoxicity in the MCF10A non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cell line [110].…”