Plant-based foods and hepatocellular carcinoma: A review on mechanistic understanding

Abstract

Regardless of etiology, hepatocarcinogenesis is frequently preceded by a distinctive sequence of chronic necroinflammation, compensatory hepatic regeneration, development of hepatic fibrosis, and ultimately cirrhosis. The liver being central immunomodulators, closely maintains immunotolerance. Any dysregulation in this management of immunotolerance is a hallmark of chronic hepatic disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Apart from other malignancies, hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for 90% of liver cancers. Several emerging evidences have recognized diet as lifestyle associated risk factor in HCC development. However, natural compounds have the potential to fight hepatoma aggressiveness via inhibition of cellular proliferation and modulation of oncogenic pathways. This review aimed to identify the several plant-based foods for their protective role in HCC prevention by understating the molecular mechanisms involved in inhibition of progression and proliferation of cancer. Information from relevant publications in which several plant-based foods demonstrated protective potential against HCC has been integrated as well as evaluated. For data integration, Science direct, Google scholar, and Scopus websites were used. Nutrition-based approaches in the deterrence of several cancers offer a substantial benefit to currently used medical therapies and should be implemented more often as an adjunct to first-line medical therapy. Furthermore, the inclusion of these plant-based foods (vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices) may improve general health and decline cancer incidence.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Etiology
• hepatocarcinogenesis
• natural compounds
• necroinflammation
• oncogenic pathways

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author contributions

Conception of idea: Raakia Anam Saeed: Design of review outline: Raakia Anam Saeed, Maria Maqsood, Laiba Asghar and Sahar Un Nisa: Sourcing literature: Raakia Anam Saeed, Maria Maqsood and Raafia Anam Saeed: Preparing the figures: Raakia Anam Saeed and Laiba Asghar. Reviewing and revising the manuscript: Rana Muhammad Aadil, Roshina Rabail, Hafiz Shehzad Muzammil and Muhammad Issa Khan; Editing the manuscript and supervision: Hafiz Shehzad Muzammil, Rana Muhammad Aadil.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.