405
Curcumin is a natural phenolic compound, it exert its anticancer effect on skin
cancer and has been described as a compound that can influence cell cycle by acting
as a pro-apoptotic agent (Działo et al. 2016). Antiproliferative effect of curcumin
was investigated by Abusinina et al. on melanoma cancer in in vitro studies, using
B16F10 murine melanoma cells. Their report indicated that curcumin served as an
inhibitor to melanoma cell proliferation by acting as a non-selective cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and this is related to epigenetic integrator UHRF1. They also
suggested that curcumin which occur in food and diets can help in cancer prevention
and contribute to gene expression via epigenetic control (Abusnina et al. 2011).
Curcumin mechanism involves the inhibition of the proliferation of selected cell
lines and also induced apoptosis of cancer cells with dose-dependent response (Ide
et al. 2018). The in vivo experiment on transgenic adenocarcinoma in mouse prostate model, with oral administration of curcumin for 1 month revealed that the curcumin regulated the transgenic enzyme expression, including AKR1C2, suppressed
growth of prostate cancer cells, and decrease testosterone levels in prostate tissues
of TRAMP mice (Ide et al. 2018).
19.6 Nutraceutical Application of Polyphenols
Cancer is one of the world’s second leading deadly diseases, which has claimed
many lives (WHO 2018). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as reactive nitrogen species (RNS) can as well serve as carcinogenic and mutagenic agents, which
can later contributes to cancer development. The most proffered solution to treatment of cancer globally is through chemotherapy and this has been discovered to
have many side effects (Huang et al. 2017). A flavonoid derived drug for the treatment of cancer known as flavopiridol is a phytochemical compound obtained from
the plant Dysoxylum gotadhora (Buch.-Ham.), which is active for leukemia and
lymphomas treatment (Shah et al. 2003; Cragg and Newman 2005). Some dietary
supplements, made up of phenolic compounds, most especially flavonoids have
long been reported to have chemopreventive ability and also have roles to play in
management of cancer (Block et al. 1992; Zhishen et al. 1999; Brusselmans et al.
2003; Ahmed et al. 2016).
19.7 Conclusion
Polyphenols are class of aromatic compounds with polyhydroxyphenol structures.
These compounds can be divided into several subclasses including phenolics, stilbenes, flavonoids, tannins, and lignan. These polyphenols are mostly natural compounds, which are readily found in plant-based foods while some are synthetic.
Polyphenols have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, skin protection,
immune system, blood pressure reduction, cardioprotective and anticancer
19 Polyphenols: Classifications, Biosynthesis and Bioactivities
Curcumin is a natural phenolic compound, it exert its anticancer effect on skin
cancer and has been described as a compound that can influence cell cycle by acting
as a pro-apoptotic agent (Działo et al. 2016). Antiproliferative effect of curcumin
was investigated by Abusinina et al. on melanoma cancer in in vitro studies, using
B16F10 murine melanoma cells. Their report indicated that curcumin served as an
inhibitor to melanoma cell proliferation by acting as a non-selective cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and this is related to epigenetic integrator UHRF1. They also
suggested that curcumin which occur in food and diets can help in cancer prevention
and contribute to gene expression via epigenetic control (Abusnina et al. 2011).
Curcumin mechanism involves the inhibition of the proliferation of selected cell
lines and also induced apoptosis of cancer cells with dose-dependent response (Ide
et al. 2018). The in vivo experiment on transgenic adenocarcinoma in mouse prostate model, with oral administration of curcumin for 1 month revealed that the curcumin regulated the transgenic enzyme expression, including AKR1C2, suppressed
growth of prostate cancer cells, and decrease testosterone levels in prostate tissues
of TRAMP mice (Ide et al. 2018).
19.6 Nutraceutical Application of Polyphenols
Cancer is one of the world’s second leading deadly diseases, which has claimed
many lives (WHO 2018). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as reactive nitrogen species (RNS) can as well serve as carcinogenic and mutagenic agents, which
can later contributes to cancer development. The most proffered solution to treatment of cancer globally is through chemotherapy and this has been discovered to
have many side effects (Huang et al. 2017). A flavonoid derived drug for the treatment of cancer known as flavopiridol is a phytochemical compound obtained from
the plant Dysoxylum gotadhora (Buch.-Ham.), which is active for leukemia and
lymphomas treatment (Shah et al. 2003; Cragg and Newman 2005). Some dietary
supplements, made up of phenolic compounds, most especially flavonoids have
long been reported to have chemopreventive ability and also have roles to play in
management of cancer (Block et al. 1992; Zhishen et al. 1999; Brusselmans et al.
2003; Ahmed et al. 2016).
19.7 Conclusion
Polyphenols are class of aromatic compounds with polyhydroxyphenol structures.
These compounds can be divided into several subclasses including phenolics, stilbenes, flavonoids, tannins, and lignan. These polyphenols are mostly natural compounds, which are readily found in plant-based foods while some are synthetic.
Polyphenols have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, skin protection,
immune system, blood pressure reduction, cardioprotective and anticancer
19 Polyphenols: Classifications, Biosynthesis and Bioactivities