Onco-Preventive and Chemo-Protective Effects of Apple Bioactive Compounds

Linda Nezbedova1,2, Tony McGhie3, Mark Christensen4

  • 1School of Food and Advanced Technology, Massey University, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

Nutrients
|November 27, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Regularly consuming apples, rich in phytochemicals, may lower cancer risk. These plant compounds show onco-preventive effects by targeting key cancer mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Nutrition Science
  • Oncology
  • Phytochemistry

Background:

  • Cancer is a leading global cause of death.
  • Diets high in fruits, rich in phytochemicals, are linked to reduced cancer incidence.
  • Phytochemicals possess onco-preventive and chemo-protective properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the association between apple consumption and cancer incidence.
  • To explore apple phytochemical profiles and their bioavailability.
  • To summarize evidence on molecular mechanisms of apple phytochemicals against cancer hallmarks.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epidemiological and cohort studies on apple consumption and cancer.
  • Analysis of phytochemical composition and bioavailability in apples.
  • Synthesis of in vitro and in vivo research on apple phytochemicals' anti-cancer mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Epidemiological data suggest a correlation between apple intake and lower cancer risk.
  • Apples contain diverse phytochemicals with varying bioavailability.
  • Apple phytochemicals demonstrate potential to inhibit multiple hallmarks of cancer progression.

Conclusions:

  • Apple consumption is associated with reduced cancer incidence.
  • The onco-preventive effects of apples are attributed to their rich phytochemical content.
  • Further research into apple phytochemicals offers promising avenues for cancer prevention strategies.

Related Concept Videos

Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
6.4K
Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity01:25

Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity

Mutagenicity and carcinogenicity refer to the ability of drugs to cause genetic defects and induce cancer, respectively. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies agents into four groups based on their carcinogenic potential. Group 1 agents are known human carcinogens; group 2A agents are probably carcinogenic to humans; group 3 agents lack data to support their role in carcinogenesis; and group 4 includes agents for which data support that they are not likely to be...
1.5K
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
5.2K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
7.9K
Cancer Therapies02:49

Cancer Therapies

Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
8.1K
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
5.0K