Correlation of the anticancer and pro-oxidant behavior and the structure of flavonoid-oxidovanadium(IV) complexes

The phytochemical compounds flavonoids have potential medicinal benefits such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antiviral action. These properties can be enhanced by metal complexation. In particular, we show the antioxidant activities of twelve flavonoids and their oxidovanadium(IV) complexes. When different cells lines were incubated with these compounds, they behaved as pro-oxidant compounds showing anticancer properties and selectively kill tumor cells without side effects on normal cells. The aim of the present review is to try to find a correlation between the chemical structure and the anticancer action of these compounds in each tested cancer cell line. The design and synthesis of new antitumor VO-flavonoids complexes certainly remain an attractive field for the treatment of cancer.