ADVANCES IN THE ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF DIETARY POLYPHENOLS: MECHANISMS, EFFICACY, AND CLINICAL PROSPECTS

Abstract

Cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, driving the urgent search for effective and less toxic therapeutic strategies. Among natural compounds, dietary polyphenols, particularly flavonoids, have emerged as promising agents for both chemoprevention and chemotherapy due to their multi-targeted mechanisms of action and high safety profile. In this review comprehensively examines the anticancer potential of these bioactive compounds, focusing on major flavonoid subclasses such as flavanols (EGCG from green tea), anthocyanidins (delphinidin from berries), flavonols (quercetin from onions), flavanones (hesperetin from citrus), flavones (apigenin from parsley), and isoflavones (genistein from soy). We elucidate their ability to modulate key cellular processes, including inducing apoptosis, arresting the cell cycle, inhibiting metastasis and angiogenesis, and suppressing pivotal signaling pathways like NF-κB and PI3K/Akt. Furthermore, Despite compelling preclinical evidence, challenges related to poor bioavailability and inconsistent clinical outcomes persist. This review concludes by discussing innovative solutions, such as nanotechnology-based delivery systems, and emphasizes the importance of a polyphenol-rich diet for cancer prevention while outlining a translational pathway for their development into clinically validated, nature-inspired therapeutics.