The molecular basis of the anticancer properties of quercetin

Quercetin is a major constituent of various dietary products, which is increasingly being investigated as a therapeutic option in the oncological field. It has attracted extensive interest due to its ability of interacting with different molecular targets and evoking a broad spectrum of chemopreventive and anticancer activities. In this review, we have tried to present and critically discuss its potential against an extensive range of cancers including lung, ovarian, prostate, breast, colorectal, bladder cancers. We also highlighted studies that combined quercetin with standard anticancer drugs and delivered it via novel techniques and included a detailed description of its proposed mechanism(s) of action, and pharmacokinetic and safety profile.