Background: Cancer is still an all-times issue due to a large and even increasing number of deaths. Impaired genes regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis are targets for the development of novel cancer treatments.
Hypothesis: Increased transcription of NADPH oxidase activator (NOXA), Bcl2-like11 (BIM), BH3-only proteins and p53 unregulated apoptosis modulator (PUMA) is caused by the imbalance between pro- and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins due to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The membranous network of ER is present in all eukaryotic cells. ER stress facilitates the interaction between Bax and PUMA, triggering the release of cytochrome C. As a main intracellular organelle, ER is responsible for translocation as well as post-translation modification and protein folding.
Results: Hesperetin is a cytoprotective flavonone, which acts against ER stress and protects from cell damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Hesperetin inhibits lipid peroxidation induced by Fe2+ and l-ascorbic acid in rat brain homogenates.
Conclusion: This review deals with the anticancer effects of hesperetin regarding the regulation of ER stress as a principal mechanism in the pathogenesis of tumors.
Keywords: Mode-of-action; Phytochemicals; Phytotherapy; Signal transduction.
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