Alkylresorcinols and Cancer

Abstract

Whole-grain foods are considered as foods with health-protective effects due to the dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals in their composition. Alkylresorcinol compounds, which are amphiphilic phenolic lipids found in the structure of whole-grains, have been a subject that has been emphasized in recent years. Especially in vitro studies, it is stated that alkylresorcinols have various physiological and biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, affecting membrane phospholipid activity and enzyme activity, and inhibit tumorigenesis. It is stated that the phenolic ring and alkyl chain in the structure of alkylresorcinols are important for inhibiting the proliferation of human cancer cells. Studies have shown that alkylresorcinols may have an important role in the pathogenesis of cancer with their ability to affect the inhibition of some enzymes and genotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines. It is stated that high-concentration of alkylresorcinols provide inhibition of human colon, breast, lung, ovarian, prostate, and hepatic cancer cell lines and are considered as highly cytotoxic agents for these cancer types. In addition, it is thought that alkylresorcinols have an important mechanism in the prevention of testosterone and estradiol-dependent cancers by affecting the synthesis of sex hormones. However, there is insufficient evidence about the relation of alkylresorcinols with cancer risk. Establishing safe concentrations and acceptable daily intakes for alkylresorcinols with future studies will provide clearer information. However, the potential role of alkylresorcinols in cancer development supports public health recommendations emphasizing that diets rich in whole-grains are potentially protective against some types of cancer. In this review, it was aimed to examine the role of alkylresorcinols in the pathogenesis of cancer and to elucidate the relationship between alkylresorcinols and cancer.