Augmented Cell Signaling by Natural Polyphenols and Flavonoids: Insights Into Cancer Cell Remodeling and Prevention

Genetic alterations trigger various cell signaling pathways by transforming the cell cycle of a normal cell into a cancer cell. Flavonoids are abundantly expressed in natural foods which are alleged to shield cells against aging and age-related diseases by protecting DNA, lipids, and protein molecules from mutation and oxidative damage by their multiple targeting properties. Flavonoids target the cancer cells through alteration of gene expression or by direct interaction with radicals to suppress the process of carcinogenesis. However, the major downside related to the use of flavonoids as a therapeutic drug for cancer is that their exact molecular mechanism of action is unknown and their poor bioavailability might delay the in vivo efficacy of natural bioactive compounds. Biological activity, metabolism, and molecular targets of bioactive compounds depend upon the number and position of hydroxyl groups and structural configuration of functional groups in their nuclear structure. In this chapter, we focus on illustrating the efficacy of bioactive natural flavonoids on tumor progression and cancer cell proliferation. The chapter further elucidates the targeted mechanistic action of these bioactive compounds in recognizing and targeting cancer cells toward the cell death pathway. This highlights the efficacy of flavonoids against cancer and their multiple cellular targets for anticancer activity. However, there is no clear idea between cancer prevention and natural diet supplements. Furthermore, establishing a protective bioactive compound with well-known molecular target-specific sites and signaling pathway might pave the way toward fruitful cancer prevention. This chapter examines the role of flavonoids and polyphenols as natural tools for the prevention of cancer.