Polyphenols from Vaccinium, Citrus, Olea, and Cynara may serve as adjuvants to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy drugs like Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Tamoxifen, and Paclitaxel.
Do polyphenols of the genera Vaccinium, Citrus, Olea, and Cynara reduce side effects induced by chemotherapy?
Polyphenols from specific plant genera show promise as adjuvants to mitigate the toxic side effects of common chemotherapy agents.
Cancer is one of the most widespread diseases globally and one of the leading causes of death. Known cancer treatments are chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, targeted hormonal therapy, or a combination of these methods. Antitumor drugs, with different mechanisms, interfere with cancer growth by destroying cancer cells. However, anticancer drugs are dangerous, as they significantly affect both cancer cells and healthy cells. In addition, there may be the onset of systemic side effects perceived and mutagenicity, teratogenicity, and further carcinogenicity. Many polyphenolic extracts, taken on top of common anti-tumor drugs, can participate in the anti-proliferative effect of drugs and significantly reduce the side effects developed. This review aims to discuss the current scientific knowledge of the protective effects of polyphenols of the genera Vaccinium, Citrus, Olea, and Cynara on the side effects induced by four known chemotherapy, Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Tamoxifen, and Paclitaxel. In particular, the summarized data will help to understand whether polyphenols can be used as adjuvants in cancer therapy, although further clinical trials will provide crucial information.
Maiuolo et al. (2022) conducted a review in Cancer and chemotherapy-induced side effects. Polyphenols of the genera Vaccinium, Citrus, Olea, and Cynara was evaluated on Reduction of chemotherapy-induced side effects. Polyphenols from Vaccinium, Citrus, Olea, and Cynara may serve as adjuvants to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy drugs like Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Tamoxifen, and Paclitaxel.