Unifying Mechanism for Nutrients as Anticancer Agents: Electron Transfer, Reactive Oxygen Species and Oxidative Stress

A recent article deals with various nutrients in relation to bactericidal action. The present article focuses on a unifying mode of action for the nutrients, namely, resveratrol, epigallocatechin, polyene-ß-carotene, polyene lycopene, piperine, curcumin, genistein, luteolin, sulforaphane and pomegranate extract. The mechanism is based on electron transfer, reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress, which comprises an extension of earlier reports involving agents. Most of the compounds are precursors of electron transfer quinones, whereas others fit into the polyene category. The nutrients are better known as antioxidants. The dichotomy is addressed.