Myricetin-Mediated Apoptosis in Cancer Cells

Myricetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid abundant in fruits, vegetables and tea, has emerged as a potent inducer of programmed cell death in a variety of malignant cell types. Its anticancer activity centres on the modulation of intrinsic apoptotic pathways through the regulation of key signalling cascades. By shifting the balance between pro-apoptotic proteins (such as Bax) and anti-apoptotic factors (such as Bcl-2), myricetin promotes mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilisation, cytochrome c release and subsequent activation of caspase-9 and downstream caspase-3. Concurrently, it interferes with survival signalling mediated by PI3K/Akt and MAPK networks, leading to inhibition of proliferation and enhancement of apoptotic response. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that myricetin can sensitise tumour cells to established chemotherapeutic agents, overcome drug resistance and suppress metastatic traits by reversing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions. Despite challenges in bioavailability, novel delivery systems such as nanoformulations are under development to potentiate its therapeutic index. Collectively, these findings highlight the global significance of myricetin as a low-toxicity adjuvant in cancer management and underscore its potential translation into clinical settings.

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Myricetin-Mediated Apoptosis in Cancer Cells publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in myricetin-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Apoptosis: A regulated process of programmed cell death characterised by chromatin condensation, membrane blebbing and caspase activation.

Bcl-2 family: A group of proteins governing mitochondrial membrane permeability and the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, including both pro- and anti-apoptotic members.

Caspases: A family of cysteine proteases that execute apoptosis by cleaving specific cellular substrates.

PI3K/Akt pathway: A signal transduction cascade promoting cell survival and growth; its inhibition sensitises cells to apoptotic stimuli.

MAPK pathway: A kinase cascade comprising ERK, JNK and p38 subfamilies involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and stress responses.

PARP: Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, an enzyme involved in DNA repair; cleavage by caspases serves as a hallmark of apoptosis.

YAP: Yes-associated protein, a transcriptional co-activator of the Hippo signalling pathway that regulates organ size and tumourigenesis.

References

1. Myricetin: A Dietary Molecule with Diverse Biological Activities. Nutrients (2016).
2. Myricetin: A Significant Emphasis on Its Anticancer Potential via the Modulation of Inflammation and Signal Transduction Pathways. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
3. Myricetin suppresses TGF-β-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in ovarian cancer. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2023).
4. Myricetin Suppresses the Propagation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Down-Regulating Expression of YAP. Cells (2019).
5. Myricetin bioactive effects: moving from preclinical evidence to potential clinical applications. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies (2020).