Epigenetic Properties of Compounds Contained in Functional Foods Against Cancer
Epigenetics encompasses reversible and heritable genomic changes in histones, DNA expression, and non-coding RNAs that occur without modifying the nucleotide DNA sequence. These changes play a critical role in modulating cell function in both healthy and pathological conditions. Dysregulated epigene...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/1/15 |
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| author | Giulia Casari Brenda Romaldi Andrea Scirè Cristina Minnelli Daniela Marzioni Gianna Ferretti Tatiana Armeni |
| author_facet | Giulia Casari Brenda Romaldi Andrea Scirè Cristina Minnelli Daniela Marzioni Gianna Ferretti Tatiana Armeni |
| author_sort | Giulia Casari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Epigenetics encompasses reversible and heritable genomic changes in histones, DNA expression, and non-coding RNAs that occur without modifying the nucleotide DNA sequence. These changes play a critical role in modulating cell function in both healthy and pathological conditions. Dysregulated epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in various diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, and mainly cancer. Therefore, to develop innovative therapeutic strategies, research for compounds able to modulate the complex epigenetic landscape of cancer is rapidly surging. Dietary phytochemicals, mostly flavonoids but also tetraterpenoids, organosulfur compounds, and isothiocyanates, represent biologically active molecules found in vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants, and beverages. These natural organic compounds exhibit epigenetic modulatory properties by influencing the activity of epigenetics key enzymes, such as DNA methyltransferases, histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases, and histone methyltransferases and demethylases. Due to the reversibility of the modifications that they induce, their minimal adverse effects, and their potent epigenetic regulatory activity, dietary phytochemicals hold significant promise as antitumor agents and warrant further investigation. This review aims to consolidate current data on the diverse epigenetic effects of the six major flavonoid subclasses, as well as other natural compounds, in the context of cancer. The goal is to identify new therapeutic epigenetic targets for drug development, whether as stand-alone treatments or in combination with conventional antitumor approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9e6ee87dfbe244e487a92ac8528339e4 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj-art-9e6ee87dfbe244e487a92ac8528339e42025-01-24T13:24:51ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2024-12-011511510.3390/biom15010015Epigenetic Properties of Compounds Contained in Functional Foods Against CancerGiulia Casari0Brenda Romaldi1Andrea Scirè2Cristina Minnelli3Daniela Marzioni4Gianna Ferretti5Tatiana Armeni6Department of Clinical and Specialist Sciences (DISCO), Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Specialist Sciences (DISCO), Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences (DISVA), Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Life and Environmental Sciences (DISVA), Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Specialist Sciences (DISCO), Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Specialist Sciences (DISCO), Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60131 Ancona, ItalyEpigenetics encompasses reversible and heritable genomic changes in histones, DNA expression, and non-coding RNAs that occur without modifying the nucleotide DNA sequence. These changes play a critical role in modulating cell function in both healthy and pathological conditions. Dysregulated epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in various diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, and mainly cancer. Therefore, to develop innovative therapeutic strategies, research for compounds able to modulate the complex epigenetic landscape of cancer is rapidly surging. Dietary phytochemicals, mostly flavonoids but also tetraterpenoids, organosulfur compounds, and isothiocyanates, represent biologically active molecules found in vegetables, fruits, medicinal plants, and beverages. These natural organic compounds exhibit epigenetic modulatory properties by influencing the activity of epigenetics key enzymes, such as DNA methyltransferases, histone acetyltransferases and deacetylases, and histone methyltransferases and demethylases. Due to the reversibility of the modifications that they induce, their minimal adverse effects, and their potent epigenetic regulatory activity, dietary phytochemicals hold significant promise as antitumor agents and warrant further investigation. This review aims to consolidate current data on the diverse epigenetic effects of the six major flavonoid subclasses, as well as other natural compounds, in the context of cancer. The goal is to identify new therapeutic epigenetic targets for drug development, whether as stand-alone treatments or in combination with conventional antitumor approaches.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/1/15epigeneticcancerphytochemicalsflavonoidsDNA-methylationhistone-modifications |
| spellingShingle | Giulia Casari Brenda Romaldi Andrea Scirè Cristina Minnelli Daniela Marzioni Gianna Ferretti Tatiana Armeni Epigenetic Properties of Compounds Contained in Functional Foods Against Cancer Biomolecules epigenetic cancer phytochemicals flavonoids DNA-methylation histone-modifications |
| title | Epigenetic Properties of Compounds Contained in Functional Foods Against Cancer |
| title_full | Epigenetic Properties of Compounds Contained in Functional Foods Against Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Epigenetic Properties of Compounds Contained in Functional Foods Against Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Epigenetic Properties of Compounds Contained in Functional Foods Against Cancer |
| title_short | Epigenetic Properties of Compounds Contained in Functional Foods Against Cancer |
| title_sort | epigenetic properties of compounds contained in functional foods against cancer |
| topic | epigenetic cancer phytochemicals flavonoids DNA-methylation histone-modifications |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/1/15 |
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