Resveratrol mediates its anti-cancer effects by Nrf2 signaling pathway activation

Aim and background: Cancer represents a major health problem with an exceedingly high toll on the patients, their families, and the economy. Cancers are also associated with high mortality rates. Existing therapies for cancer are generally ineffective with many side effects. Method: A search was conducted on Pubmed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and web of science databases, and articles related to anticancer effects of resveratrol were collected. Results: Resveratrol is a natural compound that can activate the Nrf2 transcription factor. Nfr2 translocates to the nucleus and induces antioxidant gene expression. In different cell lines, resveratrol can increase apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells. Conclusion: We found that resveratrol shows efficacy for the treatment of cancer, but due to high controversy on the Nrf2 signaling pathway and mechanisms of resveratrol action, additional studies should be conducted to better characterize its mode-of-action in cancer. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]