Antitumor effects of quercetin in hepatocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo models: a systematic review

Fernandez-Palanca, P. and Fondevila, F. and Mendez-Blanco, C. and Tunon, M. J. and Gonzalez-Gallego, J. and Mauriz, J. L.

Nutrients (2019) 11:

DOI: 10.3390/nu11122875

Abstract

Quercetin is a flavonoid present in fruits, vegetables and plants with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Its beneficial activities have been demonstrated in different human pathologies, including hepatoprotective effects against liver disorders. High mortality and late diagnosis of the primary liver tumor hepatocarcinoma (HCC) makes this cancer an interesting target for the study of quercetin effects. Our aim was to systematically review antitumor activities of quercetin in HCC preclinical studies employing single, encapsulated, combined or derived quercetin forms. Literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (WOS), and 39 studies were finally included. We found that 17 articles evaluated quercetin effects alone, six used encapsulated strategy, 10 combined this flavonoid, two decided to co-encapsulate it and only four studied effects of quercetin derivatives, highlighting that only nine included in vivo models. Results evidence the quercetin antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties against HCC either alone and with the mentioned strategies; nevertheless, few investigations assessed specific activities on different processes related with cancer progression. Overall, further studies including animal models are needed to deeper investigate the precise mechanisms of action of quercetin as antitumor agent, as well as the potential of novel strategies aimed to improve quercetin effects in HCC.

Citation

Fernandez-Palanca, P., Fondevila, F., Mendez-Blanco, C., Tunon, M. J., Gonzalez-Gallego, J., & Mauriz, J. L. (2019). Antitumor effects of quercetin in hepatocarcinoma in vitro and in vivo models: a systematic review. Nutrients, 11(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11122875 liver, inflammation, animal models, effects, man, systematic reviews, mortality, research, studies, Crop Produce [QQ050], models, in vitro, human diseases, death rate, diagnosis, derivatives, antiinflammatory properties, liver diseases, antineoplastic agents, neoplasms, flavonoids, antioxidants, phytochemicals, Food Processing (General) [QQ100], protection, properties, Other Produce [QQ070], Pesticides and Drugs (General) [HH400], Non-communicable Human Diseases and Injuries [VV600], Animal Models of Human Diseases [VV400], cancers, quercetin, Horticultural Crops [FF003], Pharmacology [VV730], anti-inflammatory properties, Diagnosis of Human Disease [VV720], Animal Models of Human Nutrition [VV140], anti-neoplastic properties, antineoplastic properties, vegetable crops, vegetables, fruits, anti-hepatotoxic properties, antihepatotoxic properties, cytotoxic agents, encapsulation, hepatoprotective properties, tumors, tumours

Keywords

• liver
• inflammation
• animal models
• effects
• man
• systematic reviews
• mortality
• research
• studies
• Crop Produce [QQ050]
• models
• in vitro
• human diseases
• death rate
• diagnosis
• derivatives
• antiinflammatory properties
• liver diseases
• antineoplastic agents
• neoplasms
• flavonoids
• antioxidants
• phytochemicals
• Food Processing (General) [QQ100]
• protection
• properties
• Other Produce [QQ070]
• Pesticides and Drugs (General) [HH400]
• Non-communicable Human Diseases and Injuries [VV600]
• Animal Models of Human Diseases [VV400]
• cancers
• quercetin
• Horticultural Crops [FF003]
• Pharmacology [VV730]
• anti-inflammatory properties
• Diagnosis of Human Disease [VV720]
• Animal Models of Human Nutrition [VV140]
• anti-neoplastic properties
• antineoplastic properties
• vegetable crops
• vegetables
• fruits
• anti-hepatotoxic properties
• antihepatotoxic properties
• cytotoxic agents
• encapsulation
• hepatoprotective properties
• tumors
• tumours