Characteristic Features of Cytotoxic Activity of Flavonoids on Human Cervical Cancer Cells

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy worldwide and development of new therapeuticstrategies and anticancer agents is an urgent priority. Plants have remained an important source in the searchfor novel cytotoxic compounds and several polyphenolic flavonoids possess antitumor properties. In this reviewarticle, data about potential anticarcinogenic activity of common natural flavonoids on various human cervicalcancer cell lines are compiled and analyzed showing perspectives for the use of these secondary metabolites in thetreatment of cervical carcinoma as well as in the development of novel chemotherapeutic drugs. Such anticancereffects of flavonoids seem to differentially depend on the cellular type and origin of cervical carcinoma creatingpossibilities for specific targeting in the future. Besides the cytotoxic activity per se, several flavonoids can alsocontribute to the increase in efficacy of conventional therapies rendering tumor cells more sensitive to standardchemotherapeutics and irradiation. Although the current knowledge is still rather scarce and further studies arecertainly needed, it is clear that natural flavonoids may have a great potential to benefit cervical cancer patients.