mTOR Targeted Cancer Chemoprevention by Flavonoids
Badar ul Islam, Mohd Shahnawaz Khan, Fohad Mabood Husain, Md Tabish Rehman, Torki A. Zughaibi, Adel Abuzenadah, Maryam Urooj, Mohammad Amjad Kamal, Shams Tabrez
Abstract
Over the past several decades, plant-derived products (phytochemicals) have been suggested to possess immense therapeutic potential. Among these phytochemicals, different flavonoids have been reported for their potent anticancer activity. To exhibit their anticancer potential, these flavonoids modulate different signaling pathways. Among these pathways, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and associated phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling cascade have been reported as a pivotal modulator of cell survival, proliferation, and death/apoptosis. Hence, targeting this cascade could be an ideal strategy to alleviate apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in different forms of cancer. The targeting of PI3K/Akt/mTOR by flavonoids have been well documented in the scientific literature. In the current study, we have studied the anticancer potential of various flavonoids, especially flavones, flavonols, and isoflavones that include apigenin, luteolin, baicalein, tangeretin, epigallocatechin- 3-gallate, genistein, and daidzein especially dealing with mTOR targeting.