Natural Polyphenols as Modulators of Etoposide Anti-Cancer Activity

• Main Authors: Magdalena Kluska, Katarzyna Woźniak
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: polyphenols; etoposide; topoisomerase II
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/12/6602

Polyphenols are naturally occurring compounds found in abundance in fruits and vegetables. Their health-promoting properties and their use in the prevention and treatment of many human diseases, including cancer, have been known for years. Many anti-cancer drugs are derived from these natural compounds. Etoposide, which is a semi-synthetic derivative of podophyllotoxin, a non-alkaloid lignan isolated from the dried roots and rhizomes of <i>Podophyllum peltatum</i> or <i>Podophyllum emodi</i> (Berberidaceae), is an example of such a compound. In this review, we present data on the effects of polyphenols on the anti-cancer activity of etoposide in in vitro and in vivo studies.