Anticancer Properties of Kaempferol on Cellular Signaling Pathways

Polyhydroxy compounds are secondary metabolites that are ubiquitous in plants of higher genera. They possess therapeutic properties against a wide spectrum of diseases, including cancers, neurodegenerative disorders, atherosclerosis, as well as cardiovascular disease. The phytochemical flavonol (a type of flavonoid) kaempferol (KMP) (3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)- 4Hchromen-4-one) is abundant in cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, kale, spinach, and watercress, as well as in herbs like dill, chives, and tarragon. KMP is predominantly hydrophobic in nature due to its diphenylpropane structure (a characteristic feature of flavonoids). Recent findings have indicated the promise of applying KMP in disease prevention due to its potential antioxidant, antimutagenic, antifungal, and antiviral activities. In the literature, there is evidence that KMP exerts its anticancer effects by modulating critical elements in cellular signal transduction pathways linked to apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, and metastasis in cancer cells without affecting the viability of normal cells. It has been shown that KMP triggers cancer cell death by several mechanisms, including cell cycle arrest, caspase activation, metabolic alteration, and impacting human telomerase reverse-transcriptase gene expression. This review is aimed at providing critical insights into the influence of KMP on the intracellular cascades that regulate metabolism and signaling in breast, ovarian, and cervical cancer cells.