Dihydrochalcones as Antitumor Agents

Abstract

Dihydrochalcones are a class of secondary metabolites, possessing several biological properties such as antitumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, antidiabetic, estrogenic, anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, antiviral, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory properties; therefore, they are currently considered promising candidates in the drug discovery process. This review intends to debate their pharmacological actions with particular attention to their antitumor activity against a panel of cancer cell lines and to the description of the inhibition mechanisms of cell proliferation such as the regulation of angiogenesis, apoptosis, etc.

Keywords: Chalcones; antibacterial; antioxidant; antitumor agents; cell lines; dihydrochalcones.