Regulation of MicroRNAs by Phytochemicals: A Promising Strategy for Cancer Chemoprevention

Abstract

A growing body of evidence suggests that phytochemicals are potentially able to affect a variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, apoptosis, cell-cycle control, angiogenesis, inflammation, and DNA repair. Phytochemicals may typically play pleiotropic regulatory roles in cancer cells. Chemoprevention, which can be achieved by using these natural agents, has emerged as a helpful strategy to manage a variety of malignancies. With regard to cancer-associated chemopreventive mechanisms, phytochemicals can act by modulating microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target genes. This review aims to present an overview of recent findings on the effects of some wellcharacterized bioactive phytochemicals on miRNA regulation in different cancer types. The potential use of these phytochemicals for the chemoprevention and treatment of cancer is also discussed.