A comprehensive review of six dietary polyphenols in colorectal cancer : Pharmacokinetics, mechanism and therapeutic potentials
Mu, Weizhi ; Yestekbayeva, Dariya ; Twum, Bonsra and Wan, Murphy Lam Yim LU
(2025)
In Phytomedicine
149.
- Abstract
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health challenge with high morbidity and mortality despite advances in detection and treatment. Dietary polyphenols are secondary metabolites widely found in plant-derived foods and beverages, and have gained attention for their potential in CRC prevention and therapy due to their diverse biological activities. Methods This review synthesizes findings published between 01 January 2019 and 31 May 2025 on the preventive and therapeutic effects of six common dietary polyphenols in CRC, based on in vitro , animal and human studies retrieved from PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. A total of 333 eligible papers were included. Pharmacokinetic properties and drug-likeness of dietary... (More)
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health challenge with high morbidity and mortality despite advances in detection and treatment. Dietary polyphenols are secondary metabolites widely found in plant-derived foods and beverages, and have gained attention for their potential in CRC prevention and therapy due to their diverse biological activities. Methods This review synthesizes findings published between 01 January 2019 and 31 May 2025 on the preventive and therapeutic effects of six common dietary polyphenols in CRC, based on in vitro , animal and human studies retrieved from PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. A total of 333 eligible papers were included. Pharmacokinetic properties and drug-likeness of dietary polyphenols were evaluated using the SwissADME. Toxicity prediction of polyphenols was done by the ProTox 3.0. Results Despite their structural diversity, polyphenols share key anticancer mechanisms against CRC. Their effects are primarily mediated through induction of cell cycle arrest, inhibition of oncogenic pathways involved in proliferation and angiogenesis, promotion of apoptosis or autophagy, inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress, and modulation of the gut microbiota. Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity (ADMET) analysis indicates generally favorable pharmacological properties such as high gastrointestinal absorption, moderate lipophilicity, and selective cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibition, and an overall good safety profile for most studied polyphenols. However, their clinical application is hindered by poor bioavailability, metabolic instability and dosage variability. Conclusion Dietary polyphenols hold promise as adjuncts to CRC therapies. Addressing pharmacokinetic limitations through nanoformulations, combination strategies and well-designed clinical trials is critical to unlock their full therapeutic value and ensure safe and effective application.
(Less)
- author
- Mu, Weizhi
; Yestekbayeva, Dariya
; Twum, Bonsra
and Wan, Murphy Lam Yim
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- ADMET, Colorectal cancer, Mechanisms of action, Pharmacokinetics, Polyphenols, Therapeutic potential
- in
- Phytomedicine
- volume
- 149
- article number
- 157509
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:41289747
- scopus:105022894800
- ISSN
- 0944-7113
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157509
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 660f1033-354a-459f-87ba-0868edb701b4
- date added to LUP
- 2026-01-14 14:21:37
- date last changed
- 2026-01-14 14:21:59
@article{660f1033-354a-459f-87ba-0868edb701b4,
abstract = {{<p>Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major global health challenge with high morbidity and mortality despite advances in detection and treatment. Dietary polyphenols are secondary metabolites widely found in plant-derived foods and beverages, and have gained attention for their potential in CRC prevention and therapy due to their diverse biological activities. Methods This review synthesizes findings published between 01 January 2019 and 31 May 2025 on the preventive and therapeutic effects of six common dietary polyphenols in CRC, based on in vitro , animal and human studies retrieved from PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. A total of 333 eligible papers were included. Pharmacokinetic properties and drug-likeness of dietary polyphenols were evaluated using the SwissADME. Toxicity prediction of polyphenols was done by the ProTox 3.0. Results Despite their structural diversity, polyphenols share key anticancer mechanisms against CRC. Their effects are primarily mediated through induction of cell cycle arrest, inhibition of oncogenic pathways involved in proliferation and angiogenesis, promotion of apoptosis or autophagy, inhibition of inflammation and oxidative stress, and modulation of the gut microbiota. Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity (ADMET) analysis indicates generally favorable pharmacological properties such as high gastrointestinal absorption, moderate lipophilicity, and selective cytochrome P450 enzyme inhibition, and an overall good safety profile for most studied polyphenols. However, their clinical application is hindered by poor bioavailability, metabolic instability and dosage variability. Conclusion Dietary polyphenols hold promise as adjuncts to CRC therapies. Addressing pharmacokinetic limitations through nanoformulations, combination strategies and well-designed clinical trials is critical to unlock their full therapeutic value and ensure safe and effective application.</p>}},
author = {{Mu, Weizhi and Yestekbayeva, Dariya and Twum, Bonsra and Wan, Murphy Lam Yim}},
issn = {{0944-7113}},
keywords = {{ADMET; Colorectal cancer; Mechanisms of action; Pharmacokinetics; Polyphenols; Therapeutic potential}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Phytomedicine}},
title = {{A comprehensive review of six dietary polyphenols in colorectal cancer : Pharmacokinetics, mechanism and therapeutic potentials}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157509}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.phymed.2025.157509}},
volume = {{149}},
year = {{2025}},
}