Table 1 Dietary compounds and their effects against melanoma

Coffee/various phytochemicals

inhibition of oxidative stress and oxidative damage, regulation of DNA repair, phase II enzymatic activity, apoptosis, inflammation, antiproliferative, antiangiogenetic effects, and antimetastatic effects

29–39

Tea/catechins and theaflavins

reverse damage caused by UV light; decrease in UV-induced skin tumor incidence and size inhibiting angiogenesis, modulation of the immune system; activation of enzyme systems involved in cellular detoxification; EGCG inhibits erythema, enhances pyrimidine dimer repair in DNA, in UV-irradiated human skin

40–50

Pomegranate

decreases tyrosinase activity and melanin production; decreases phosphorylation of CREB, MITF, and melanogenic enzymes; strong antitumor agent in animal models

51–50

Resveratrol

antiproliferative activity against melanoma cells, induction of apoptosis; modulation of photodamaged skin

61–76

Vitamin A

Inhibition of growth, proliferation, apoptosis-induction, alteration of cytokines profiles

77–85

Vitamin C

to limit the toxic effects of ROS, immune homeostasis, apoptosis

86–93

Vitamin D

anti-proliferative activity, effects on the immune system

109–113

Vitamin E

reduction of IL-6 and IFN-γ production by different leukocyte subset, to limit the toxic effects of ROS, tyrosinase-inactivation

94–101

Flavonoids:

GSPs, Luteolin, Apigenin, etc.

protection against UV damage; Induction of apoptosis Inhibition of cell growth in cell lines. Reversed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition

114–138