Myricetin Induces Protective Autophagy by Inhibiting the Phosphorylation of mTOR in HepG2 Cells

Myricetin, a natural flavonoid present in a variety of fruits and vegetables, has been studied as a promising cancer chemopreventive agent in many cancer models. It has been reported that myricetin could inhibit tumor promotion by inducing cell cycle arrest and promoting apoptotic cell death. At present, autophagy is considered to be closely associated with cancer, functioning as either an anti-cancer or pro-cancer mechanism depending on the cancer stage. Till date, the role of myricetin in regulating autophagy has not been reported. In this study, we found that myricetin can induce autophagy by inhibiting mTOR activation in HepG2 cells. Our findings thus provide evidence for further research and application of myricetin as a potential cancer therapeutic agent. Anat Rec, 301:786-795, 2018.