C-Glycosyl Flavonoids from Beta vulgarisCicla and Betalains from Beta vulgarisrubra: Antioxidant, Anticancer and Antiinflammatory Activities-A Review: Pharmacological Activities of Green and Red Beets
Abstract
The green beet (Beta vulgaris var. cicla L.) and red beetroot (B. vulgaris var. rubra L.) contain phytochemicals that have beneficial effects on human health. Specifically, the green beet contains apigenin, vitexin, vitexin-2-O-xyloside and vitexin-2-O-rhamnoside, while the red beetroot is a source of betaxanthins and betacyanins. These phytochemicals show considerable antioxidant activity, as well as antiinflammatory and antiproliferative activities. Vitexin-2-O-xyloside, in combination with betaxanthins and betacyanins, exerts antiproliferative activity in breast, liver, colon and bladder cancer cell lines, through the induction of both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways. A significant body of evidence also points to the role of these phytochemicals in the downregulation of the pro-survival genes, baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis repeat-containing 5 and catenin beta-1, as well as the genes controlling angiogenesis, hypoxia inducible factor 1A and vascular endothelial growth factor A. The multi-target action of these phytochemicals enhances their anticancer activity. Vitexin-2-O-xyloside, betaxanthins and betacyanins can be used in combination with conventional anticancer drugs to reduce their toxicity and overcome the multidrug resistance of cancer cells. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanisms that enable these dietary phytochemicals to block the proliferation of tumor cells and inhibit their pro-survival pathways. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Flavonoids enhance endothelial function by increasing eNOS activity and decreasing NADPH oxidase-derived superoxide.
“Additionally, flavonoids enhance endothelial function by increasing eNOS activity and decreasing NADPH oxidase-derived superoxide.”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [77]
Betalains exhibit strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties.
“Betalains, which are nitrogen-containing pigments characteristic of beetroot, exhibit strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective properties.”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [77]
Betanin acts as a ROS scavenger and modulates Nrf2-dependent pathways.
“Betanin acts as a ROS scavenger and modulates Nrf2-dependent pathways [77,79,96].”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [77]
The synergistic interaction between nitrate and other bioactive compounds, such as betalains and polyphenols, further enhances redox balance and anti-inflammatory responses.
“The synergistic interaction between nitrate and other bioactive compounds, such as betalains and polyphenols, further enhances redox balance and anti-inflammatory responses [77,100,102].”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [77]
Beetroot-derived flavonoids exhibit antioxidant and anticancer properties, and may act synergistically with betalains to reduce oxidative damage.
“Beetroot-derived flavonoids exhibit antioxidant and anticancer properties, and they may act synergistically with betalains to reduce oxidative damage [77].”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [77]
These phytochemicals are present in foods such as beetroot, Swiss chard and prickly pear, and represent an accessible dietary strategy for enhancing vascular resilience and promoting healthy ageing.
“These phytochemicals are present in foods such as beetroot, Swiss chard and prickly pear, and represent an accessible dietary strategy for enhancing vascular resilience and promoting healthy ageing [77,79].”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [77]
Beetroot phytochemicals can counteract some of these effects by reducing oxidative stress and stabilising NO intermediates.
“Beetroot phytochemicals can counteract some of these effects by reducing oxidative stress and stabilising NO intermediates [77,86].”
From Dietary Nitrate-Rich Vegetables as Natural Modulators of Health: Mechanisms and Benefits in Ageing Populations (2026) · cites this paper as [77]
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Red Beetroot and Betalains as Cancer Chemopreventative Agents
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Anti-inflammatory activity of betalains: A comprehensive review
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“Betanin acts as a ROS scavenger and modulates Nrf2-dependent pathways [77,79,96].”
Influential
- Authors
- Ninfali, P., Antonini, E., Frati, A., & Scarpa, E.-S.
- Affiliations
- University of Urbino (IT)
- Corresponding author
- Ninfali, Paolino
- Venue
- Phytotherapy Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-05-02
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 871-884
- ISSN
- 0951-418X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2611767788
- Cited by
- 89
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 4
- FWCI
- 0.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Phytotherapy Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CINECA IRIS Institutional Research information system (University of Urbino) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Aboca S.p.A. Società Agricola
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Botanical Research and Applications
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Flavonoids in Medical Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Phytochemicals and Antioxidant Activities
- Keywords
- Beta vulgaris, red beetroot, C-glycosyl flavonoids, vitexin, apigenin, betalains, betaxanthins, betacyanins, antioxidant activity, anticancer activity, anti-inflammatory activity, apoptosis, Bcl-2 family proteins, hypoxia-inducible factor 1A, VEGF-A, angiogenesis, multidrug resistance, dietary phytochemicals
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic, Antioxidants, Flavonoids, Glycosides, Humans, Plant Extracts, Beta vulgaris, Apigenin, Betalains, Betacyanins, Phytochemicals
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