Cancer Prevention and Management Trough Phenolic Compounds

The chemical molecules included in the class of phenolic compounds encompass a very large variety of structures, constituting numerous families of compounds, such as, for example, the phenolic acids or the flavonoids, of which are particularly relevant the anthocyanins. These molecules, due to their chemical structures with aromatic rings, have a high antioxidant capacity which have proven to be quite beneficial for many health conditions. Among their many health benefits, polyphenols also have been described as providing important tools to prevent or help in the treatment of diverse types of cancer, namely though the regulation of cell signal transduction and gene expression, which allows controlling the development of cancer cells. In this context the present chapter highlights some scientific evidence corroborating the role of polyphenols in the prevention and treatment of cancer.