nutrients Review Anticancer Potential of Selected Flavonols: Fisetin, Kaempferol, and Quercetin on Head and Neck Cancers Robert Kubina 1,* , Marcello Iriti 2 and Agata Kabała-Dzik 1 1 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland;
[email protected] 2 Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Milan State University, via G. Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +48-32-364-13-54 Abstract: Flavonols are ones of the most common phytochemicals found in diets rich in fruit and vegetables. Research suggests that molecular functions of flavonoids may bring a number of health benefits to people, including the following: decrease inflammation, change disease activity, and alleviate resistance to antibiotics as well as chemotherapeutics. Their antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic activity has been proved. They may act as antioxidants, while preventing DNA damage by scavenging reactive oxygen radicals, reinforcing DNA repair, disrupting chemical damages by induction of phase II enzymes, and modifying signal transduction pathways. One of such research areas is a potential effect of flavonoids on the risk of developing cancer. The aim of our paper is to present a systematic review of antineoplastic activity of flavonols in general. Special attention was paid to selected flavonols: fisetin, kaempferol, and quercetin in preclinical and in vitro studies. Study results prove antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties of flavonols Citation: Kubina, R.; Iriti, M.; with regard to head and neck cancer. However, few study papers evaluate specific activities during Kabała-Dzik, A. Anticancer Potential various processes associated with cancer progression.