Prospects of tangeretin as a modulator of cancer targets/pathways

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Molecular Oncology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cancer remains a leading global cause of death, with synthetic drugs often exhibiting significant toxicity to normal cells.
• Plant-derived phytochemicals offer a promising alternative due to their pleiotropic actions and reduced toxicity.
• Tangeretin, a polymethoxylated flavone from citrus fruits, demonstrates potent anti-cancer properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the anti-cancer activity of tangeretin.
• To examine the molecular targets and pathways influenced by tangeretin.
• To discuss tangeretin's potential in combination therapy and challenges for clinical use.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on tangeretin's anti-cancer effects.
• Analysis of molecular mechanisms, including apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and signaling pathway modulation.
• Examination of tangeretin's role in drug resistance, angiogenesis, and metastasis.

Main Results:

• Tangeretin induces apoptosis via intrinsic and extrinsic pathways and causes cell cycle arrest.
• It suppresses proliferation by modulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Notch, and MAPK signaling pathways.
• Tangeretin also induces autophagic cell death and inhibits migration, invasion, and angiogenesis.

Conclusions:

• Tangeretin exhibits broad-spectrum anti-cancer activity through multiple molecular mechanisms.
• Its potential in overcoming multi-drug resistance and its use in combination therapy warrant further investigation.
• Additional research is crucial to address challenges and optimize tangeretin's clinical application.