ErbB Proteins as Molecular Target of Dietary Phytochemicals in Malignant Diseases

Table 2

Natural molecules which target ErbB proteins.

Name	Target	Mechanism of action	Clinical applications/; in vitro or in vivo experiments	References
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)	EGFR; ErbB2; ErbB3; ErbB4	Inhibits the binding of EGF to EGFR followed by inhibition of the signaling pathways; Alters the lipid organization on the plasma membrane (lipid rafts); Promotes internalization of nonactivated EGFR monomer; Reduces phosphorylation of EGFR	Clinical trial HNSCC; in vitro experiments: epidermoid carcinoma cell line (A-431)	[84, 85, 166, 167]
Quercetin	ErbB2; ErbB3	Reduces the expression level of ErbB2 and ErbB3; Reduces phosphorylation of ErbB2 and ErbB3	In vitro experiments: prostate cancer cell lines	[168, 169]
Curcumin	EGFR; ErbB2	Induces degradation of ErbB2 by ubiquitination; Induces EGFR degradation	In vitro experiments: EGFR in several lung adenocarcinoma cell lines; ErbB2 transfected COS7 cell line	[97, 98, 170]
Resveratrol	ErbB2	Downregulates ErbB2 gene; Induces apoptosis	In vitro experiments: SK-BR-3 breast cancer cell lines	[171]
Apigenin	ErbB2; ErbB3	Inhibits ErbB2 autophosphorylation and transphosphorylation; Depletes ErbB2 by polyubiquitination; Inhibits the activity of ErbB2/ErbB3 heterodimer	In vitro experiments: BT-474, SK-BR-3 breast cancer cell lines	[172]

HNSCC, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.