flavonoids / PKM2:PKM1 Cancer Research Results

Flav, flavonoids: Click to Expand ⟱
Features:

Flavonoids — a large class of plant polyphenols (natural products) including flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol), flavones (apigenin, luteolin), flavanones (naringenin), isoflavones (genistein), flavan-3-ols (EGCG/catechins), and anthocyanins. Sources: fruits/berries, tea/cocoa, legumes, herbs, and standardized extracts.

Primary mechanisms (conceptual rank):
1) Redox signaling modulation (often hormetic: low-dose NRF2 ↑; high-dose ROS ↑ in cancer)
2) Anti-inflammatory transcription suppression (NF-κB ↓; cytokines ↓)
3) Kinase signaling modulation (PI3K/AKT/mTOR ↓; MAPK context-dependent)
4) Mitochondrial stress → apoptosis (cancer; often high concentration only)
5) Iron/copper chelation + lipid-peroxidation effects (ferroptosis overlap in select contexts)

Bioavailability / PK relevance: Many flavonoids have low oral bioavailability (rapid phase II conjugation: glucuronidation/sulfation; microbiome-derived metabolites). Plasma free aglycone levels are typically low; tissue effects often reflect metabolites and chronic exposure.

In-vitro vs oral exposure: Many “anti-cancer” cytotoxic effects occur at micromolar aglycone concentrations exceeding typical systemic exposure from diet/supplements (high concentration only), unless specialized formulations or local GI exposure is the intent.

Clinical evidence status: Broad epidemiology + small human trials for cardiometabolic/inflammatory endpoints; oncology evidence mostly preclinical/adjunct-hypothesis; no class-wide RCT oncology approval.


Flavonoids are classified into seven structural classes:
1.flavanones
-Nargenin, Naringin, Hesperetin, Isosakuranetin, Eriodictyol, Taxifolin
2.flavonols
-Quercetin, Myrcetin, Fisetin, Rutin Morin, Kaempferol
3.chalcones
-Butein, Xanthohumol, Isoliquintigenin, Cardamonin, Bavachalone, Xanthohumol, Phloretin
4.flavanols
-Catechin, Gallocatechin, Epicatechin, Epigallocatechin-3-galate
5.anthocyanidins
-Cyanidin
6.flavones
-Chrysin, Apigenin, Luteolin, Vitexin, Orientin, Bacalein, Wogonin, Oroxylin A, Saponarin
7.isoflavonoids
-Daidzein, Genistein, Glycitein

Flavonoids — Cancer vs Normal Cell Pathway Map (Class-Level)

Rank Pathway / Axis Cancer Cells Normal Cells TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 ROS ↑ or ↓ (dose-dependent) ↓ (physiologic / adaptive) P/R Redox reprogramming Class hallmark: hormesis. Low–moderate exposure often antioxidant/mitochondrial-protective; high exposure can be pro-oxidant/cytotoxic in cancer models.
2 NRF2 (stress-defense; resistance role) ↑ (context-dependent) ↑ R/G Antioxidant gene induction Normal: cytoprotection. Cancer: NRF2 ↑ can reduce therapy sensitivity in some contexts (double-edged).
3 NF-κB / inflammatory cytokine programs ↓ ↓ R/G Anti-inflammatory transcription suppression One of the most consistent class-level effects across models.
4 PI3K/AKT/mTOR ↓ (model-dependent) ↔ / ↓ (metabolic/inflammatory improvement) R/G Reduced anabolic survival signaling Frequently reported but not uniform; often secondary to redox/inflammation changes.
5 MAPK (ERK/JNK/p38) ↑ stress MAPKs; ↓ ERK (context-dependent) ↔ P/R Stress-response tuning JNK/p38 often ↑ with pro-apoptotic stress; ERK effects vary by compound/model.
6 Intrinsic apoptosis (mitochondrial; caspases) ↑ (high concentration only) ↔ R/G Experimental tumor cytotoxicity Common in vitro endpoint; translation limited by PK and achievable free aglycone levels.
7 Cell-cycle checkpoints ↓ proliferation (model-dependent) ↔ G Checkpoint enforcement Often downstream of kinase/redox modulation.
8 Ferroptosis (iron/lipid peroxidation contexts) ↑ or ↓ (compound-dependent) ↔ R/G Lipid-ROS vulnerability shift Some flavonoids chelate iron (anti-ferroptotic) while others promote lipid peroxidation under stress (pro-ferroptotic); not class-uniform.
9 HIF-1α / Warburg coupling ↓ (model-dependent; high concentration only) ↔ G Reduced hypoxia-adaptation signaling Reported in some models (often via PI3K/mTOR or ROS), but not a universal class mechanism at dietary exposure.
10 Ca²⁺ / ER stress coupling ↑ or ↔ (stress-dependent) ↔ P/R UPR/excitability modulation Relevant mainly when apoptosis/UPR/excitotoxicity endpoints are measured; not a core class axis.
11 Clinical Translation Constraint ↓ (constraint) ↓ (constraint) — PK + heterogeneity Major constraints: low bioavailability, metabolite-dominant exposure, large heterogeneity across subclasses, and frequent in-vitro concentration gaps.

TSF legend: P: 0–30 min; R: 30 min–3 hr; G: >3 hr



Flavonoids — AD relevance: Flavonoid-rich diets and select supplements are studied for neuroprotection via antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects, cerebrovascular support, and synaptic plasticity signaling. Effects are generally supportive and exposure/metabolite dependent.

Primary mechanisms (conceptual rank):
1) ↓ Oxidative stress (ROS ↓; lipid peroxidation ↓)
2) ↓ Neuroinflammation (NF-κB/cytokines ↓; microglial tone ↓)
3) ↑ Synaptic plasticity signaling (BDNF/CREB ↑; network efficiency; chronic adaptation)
4) Vascular/endothelial support (NO signaling; perfusion coupling)
5) Secondary Aβ/tau pathway modulation (preclinical; not class-uniform)

Bioavailability / PK relevance: Brain effects likely mediated by metabolites and chronic intake; large variability by subclass and microbiome.

Clinical evidence status: Signals in small human trials (often with specific subclasses like cocoa flavanols/anthocyanins); AD disease-modification not established.

Flavonoids — AD / Neurodegeneration Pathway Map (Class-Level)

Rank Pathway / Axis Cells TSF Primary Effect Notes / Interpretation
1 ROS / lipid peroxidation ↓ P/R Reduced oxidative burden Core neuroprotection rationale; effect depends on subclass/metabolites and baseline oxidative stress.
2 Neuroinflammation (NF-κB, cytokines) ↓ R/G Lower inflammatory stress Common class-level effect; relevant to microglial activation tone.
3 NRF2 axis ↑ (adaptive; context-dependent) R/G Stress-defense upshift Often supports antioxidant enzymes; magnitude varies widely by compound and exposure.
4 BDNF / CREB / synaptic plasticity ↑ (supportive) G Plasticity and learning support Frequently invoked across flavonoid cognition studies; typically requires weeks–months intake.
5 Vascular/endothelial function (NO coupling) ↑ (supportive) R/G Perfusion and neurovascular support Often attributed to flavanols/anthocyanins; supports “vascular cognitive impairment” framing.
6 Aβ / tau-associated pathology ↔ / ↓ (preclinical; compound-dependent) G Pathology modulation (hypothesis) Not class-uniform; strongest evidence is preclinical, with limited biomarker-confirmed human replication.
7 Ca²⁺ homeostasis / excitotoxic vulnerability ↔ / stabilized (indirect) P/R Excitotoxic buffering Secondary to antioxidant/mitochondrial support; include as primary only with explicit Ca²⁺ endpoints.
8 Clinical Translation Constraint ↓ (constraint) — Heterogeneity + metabolite dependence Large differences across subclasses, dosing, and microbiome; effects generally supportive, not disease-modifying.

TSF legend: P: 0–30 min; R: 30 min–3 hr; G: >3 hr
PKM2:PKM1, PKM2/PKM1 ratio: Click to Expand ⟱
Source:
Type:
PKM2/PKM1 ratio
-PKM (pyruvate kinase M) exists mainly as two splice isoforms: PKM1 and PKM2.
-PKM1 is constitutively active and typically found in tissues with high-energy demands (e.g., muscle, brain).
-PKM2 is less active under some conditions and is highly regulated; importantly, it is often upregulated in cancers.
- A higher PKM2/PKM1 ratio is thought to promote the “Warburg effect” (aerobic glycolysis) that benefits rapidly proliferating tumor cells by providing biosynthetic precursors even though it is less energy efficient.
-An increased PKM2/PKM1 ratio has been associated with enhanced tumor cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis.
Scientific Papers found: Click to Expand⟱
2313- Flav,    Flavonoids against the Warburg phenotype—concepts of predictive, preventive and personalised medicine to cut the Gordian knot of cancer cell metabolism
- Review, Var, NA
Warburg↓, antiOx↑, angioG↓, Glycolysis↓, PKM2↓, PKM2:PKM1↓, β-catenin/ZEB1↓, cMyc↓, HK2↓, Akt↓, mTOR↓, GLUT1↓, Hif1a↓,

Showing Research Papers: 1 to 1 of 1

* indicates research on normal cells as opposed to diseased cells
Total Research Paper Matches: 1

Pathway results for Effect on Cancer / Diseased Cells:


Redox & Oxidative Stress ⓘ

antiOx↑, 1,  

Core Metabolism/Glycolysis ⓘ

cMyc↓, 1,   Glycolysis↓, 1,   HK2↓, 1,   PKM2↓, 1,   PKM2:PKM1↓, 1,   Warburg↓, 1,  

Cell Death ⓘ

Akt↓, 1,  

Proliferation, Differentiation & Cell State ⓘ

mTOR↓, 1,  

Migration ⓘ

β-catenin/ZEB1↓, 1,  

Angiogenesis & Vasculature ⓘ

angioG↓, 1,   Hif1a↓, 1,  

Barriers & Transport ⓘ

GLUT1↓, 1,  
Total Targets: 13

Pathway results for Effect on Normal Cells:


Total Targets: 0

Scientific Paper Hit Count for: PKM2:PKM1, PKM2/PKM1 ratio
Query results interpretion may depend on "conditions" listed in the research papers.
Such Conditions may include : 
  -low or high Dose
  -format for product, such as nano of lipid formations
  -different cell line effects
  -synergies with other products 
  -if effect was for normal or cancerous cells

Filter Conditions: Pro/AntiFlg:%  IllCat:%  CanType:%  Cells:%  prod#:227  Target#:1291  State#:%  Dir#:1
  wNotes=0  sortOrder:rid,rpid

 

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