# Immunomodulatory Effects of Flavonoids in Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer

## TL;DR

This review explores how flavonoids, found in plants and fruits, affect inflammation and cancer in the colon, particularly in colitis-related colorectal cancer.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive overview of dietary flavonoids' roles in mitigating colon inflammation and their potential impact on cancer progression.

## Key findings

- Flavonoids help reduce inflammation by modulating the gut microbiota and protecting against oxidative stress.
- Chronic inflammation can lead to cancer, and flavonoids may influence immune evasion and tumor growth in this context.
- Flavonoids offer potential for treating colitis and preventing colorectal cancer when used rationally.

## Abstract

Flavonoids present in plants and fruits have been used in traditional medicine to reduce inflammation under various inflammatory conditions, including colitis. The pharmacological mechanisms that regulate intestinal inflammation are associated with the colonic microbiota, protection against oxidative stress, preservation of epithelial barrier function, and immune homeostasis. This review describes the main flavonoids present in the diet and examines their role in mitigating colon inflammation, as well as their impact when chronic inflammation progresses to colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC), in which flavonoids may promote immune evasion and tumor growth. Understanding the effects of flavonoids on colon physiology offers an opportunity to use these compounds rationally in the treatment of colitis and prevention of the development of colorectal cancer (CRC).