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Dave et al. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2020;6:46 I http://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2020.106 Page 3 of 36

Figure 1. Phytochemicals and their chemical structures: anthocyanins in grapes, ellagic acid in raspberry, genistein in soy,
3,3’-diindoylmethane in broccoli, curcumin in turmeric, EGCG in tea, silibinin in milk thistle, and artemisinin in sweet wormwood.
Reprinted/adapted by permission from Springer Nature Customer Service Centre GmbH: Springer Nature, Natural Products for Cancer
[8]
Chemoprevention. Single Compounds and Combinations, by Pezzuto and Vang ©2020
especially compared with narrow therapeutic index chemotherapeutic agents, the potential merit of
chemoprevention is obvious.

This review encompasses studies involving the dietary role of phytochemicals including curcumin
(turmeric), epigallocatechin gallate (green tea), resveratrol (grapes), anthocyanidin (grapes and berries),
sulforaphane (cruciferous vegetables), silibinin (herb milk thistle), and lycopene (tomatoes). Mechanisms
of alleviating multiple pathological conditions, such as oxidative stress, epigenetic alteration, angiogenesis,
chronic inflammation, and effects on stem cell transformation are taken into account. Finally, some
thoughts are provided in regard to future directions.

RESVERATROL
Chemical properties of resveratrol
Resveratrol (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene, MW: 228.25 g/mol) is a naturally occurring stilbene with two
[15]
phenolic rings connected by an ethylene group . It is a phytoalexin mainly synthesized as a protective
mechanism in plants in response to environmental stress including fungal infection, UV radiation, and
[16]
chemical exposure . The dominant dietary source is grapes and grape products , but more recently,
[17]
[18]
approximately 70 species of plants have been reported to produce resveratrol . As such, in an average diet,
relatively small amounts of resveratrol can be found in peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), blackberries (Morus spp.)
and blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) [19,20] . Red wine is a major source of resveratrol in the Mediterranean diet,