2′-Hydroxyflavanone: A Bioactive Compound That Protects against Cancers

Cancer is defined as a multifactorial disease because it exhibits the continuous proliferation of malignant cells. It is one of the principal causes of death worldwide, with breast cancer occurrence being the highest among women and lung cancer being the highest among men. Hydroxyflavanones come under the category of flavonones and are further classified as 2′-hydroxyflavanone, 4′-hydroxyflavanone, 6-hydroxyflavanone, 7-hydroxyflavanone, etc. Flavonoids constitute approximately 60% of the total dietary polyphenols. Dietary components such as vegetables, fruits, cereals, soybeans, and tea are the chief sources of flavonoids, while citrus fruits contain a high amount of hydroxyflavanones. 2′-Hydroxyflavanone is known to have anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and anticancer activities. Hence, it is being investigated as a treatment for various diseases, especially cancer. 2′-Hydroxyflavanone can act as a chemotherapeutic agent in cancer. It restricts the signal transducer and activator of the transcription 3 pathway (STAT3) in some forms of cancer.