Cancer Protective Role of Selected Dietary Polyphenols via Modulating Keap1/Nrf2/ARE and Interconnected Signaling

Md Arman Islam1, Maisha Maliha Medha1, Akhlak Un Nahar1

  • 1Pharmacy Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh.

Nutrition and Cancer
|April 20, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Dietary polyphenols may protect against cancer by activating the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway. Further in vivo and clinical studies are needed to confirm these cancer-protective effects in humans.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway is crucial for cellular defense against oxidative stress and plays a role in cancer development.
  • Dietary polyphenols are investigated for their potential cancer-protective properties.

Approach:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct.
  • The review focused on 21 dietary polyphenols and their modulation of the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway and related signaling cascades.
  • Information on anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects was also collected.

Key Points:

  • Most studies indicate a cancer-protective role for selected polyphenols, primarily in vitro.
  • The Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway, along with MAPK/ERK1/2, PI3K/Akt, PKD, JNKs, AMPK, and NF-κB, are key targets.
  • Limited in vivo and clinical trial data exist for these polyphenols.

Conclusions:

  • Further in vivo research is recommended for methyleugenol, carnosol, and catechin.
  • Clinical trials are necessary to confirm the impact of dietary polyphenol consumption on human cancer incidence and progression.

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...
6.2K
Interactions Between Signaling Pathways01:19

Interactions Between Signaling Pathways

Signaling cascades usually lack linearity. Multiple pathways interact and regulate one another, allowing cells to integrate and respond to diverse environmental stimuli.
Convergence and divergence, and cross-talk between signaling pathways
Two distinct signaling pathways can converge on a single functional unit, which may either be a single protein or a complex of proteins. The response is either functionally distinct or synergistic between the two pathways but different from the response...
6.3K
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway02:26

NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway

The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
7.6K
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression03:03

mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression

The mammalian target of rapamycin or mTOR protein was discovered in 1994 due to its direct interaction with rapamycin. The protein gets its name from a yeast homolog called TOR. The mTOR protein complex in mammalian cells plays a major role in balancing anabolic processes such as the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleotides and catabolic processes, such as autophagy in response to environmental cues, such as availability of nutrients and growth factors.
The mTOR pathway or the...
3.8K
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
6.7K
MAPK Signaling Cascades01:07

MAPK Signaling Cascades

Mitogen-activated protein kinase, or MAPK pathway, activates three sequential kinases to regulate cellular responses such as proliferation, differentiation, survival, and apoptosis. The canonical MAPK pathway starts with a mitogen or growth factor binding to an RTK. The activated RTKs stimulate Ras, which recruits Raf or MAP3 Kinase (MAPKKK), the first kinase of the MAPK signaling cascade. Raf further phosphorylates and activates MEK or MAP2 Kinases (MAPKK), which in turn phosphorylates MAP...
5.7K