Flavonoids: potential Wnt/beta-catenin signaling modulators in cancer

Life Sci. 2011 Oct 10;89(15-16):545-54. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2011.05.003. Epub 2011 May 18.

Abstract

Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds found throughout the plant kingdom. They occur in every organ but are usually concentrated in leaves and flowers. During the last two decades, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that flavonoids have inhibitory effects on human diseases through targeting of multiple cellular signaling components. Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates proliferation, differentiation and fate specification in developmental stages and controls tissue homeostasis in adult life. For these reasons, this pathway has received great attention in the last years as potential pathway involved in distinct Human pathologies. In this review we discuss the emerging potential mechanisms for flavonoids on Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cancer and possible investigation strategies to understand flavonoids mode of action on this signaling pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms / physiopathology*
  • Plants / chemistry
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Wnt Proteins / drug effects*
  • beta Catenin / physiology*

Substances

  • Flavonoids
  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin