Overview of Morin and Its Complementary Role as an Adjuvant for Anticancer Agents

Abstract

The Global cancer incidence and mortality data released by the World Health Organization proposes that out of 18.1 million new cancer cases diagnosed, 9.8 million deaths occurred globally in 2018. Cancer is one of the major health burdens among non-communicable diseases globally responsible for impeding life expectancy in the present century. Disrupting hallmarks of cancer (such as prolonged inflammation, increased growth signal, tissue invasion and metastasis, unlimited proliferation and evasion of apoptosis) with dietary agents is of considerable focus for cancer prevention and therapy. In the last decade, a significant contribution has been provided in finding many plant-derived natural agents that can be identified as promising molecular cancer therapeutics. Our focus in this review is on one such natural dietary agent, Morin (3,5,7,2′,4′-pentahydroxyflavone): a bioflavonoid. Morin exerts strong pharmacological properties against a multitude of cancer (liver cancer, cervical cancer, melanoma, breast cancer, prostate, and colon cancer). Recent progress has also been made in examining the potential of morin as a natural dietary agent for fostering the pharmacological effects of other well-known anticancer agents. This review provides an overview of morin and its derivatives in combination with anticancer agents for cancer prevention and therapy.

Acknowledgments

We place on record our deepest sense of gratitude to all my colleagues of Department of Genetic Engineering and SRM IST fraternity – KTR campus for their constant support and motivation.

Conflict of Interest

There exists no conflict of interest between the authors.

Disclosure

The corresponding author was previously employed with SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur and has officially moved to SRM IST, KTR Campus, Chennai. Conceptualized and participated in design: Solaipriya, Nageswara Rao and Sivaramakrishnan. Contributed to the writing of the manuscript: Solaipriya, Qasim and Sivaramakrishnan.

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank Indian Council for Medical Research (SRF/45/24/07/PHA/BMS) and Department of Science and Technology-Science & Engineering Research Board (SB/FT/LS-211/2012) from India for their financial support for research.