Nature's Weapons: Bioactive Compounds As Anti-cancer Agents

Overview

Journal AIMS Public Health

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Oct 17

PMID 39416904

Authors

Amogh Auti

Madhura Tathode

Maria Michela Marino

Antonio Vitiello

Andrea Ballini

Francesco Miele

Valeria Mazzone

Alessia Ambrosino

Mariarosaria Boccellino

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cancer represents a major global health burden, prompting continuous research for effective therapeutic strategies. Natural compounds derived from plants have emerged as potential strategies for preventing cancer and treatment because of their inherent pharmacological properties. This comprehensive review aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of five key natural compounds: apigenin, quercetin, piperine, curcumin, and resveratrol in cancer prevention and therapy. By examining their molecular mechanisms and preclinical evidence, this review seeks to elucidate their role as potential adjuvants or stand-alone therapies in cancer management. The exploration of natural compounds as cancer therapeutics offers several advantages, including low toxicity, wide availability, and compatibility with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. We highlighted the current understanding of their anticancer mechanisms and clinical applications for advancing personalized cancer care to improve patient outcomes. We discussed the empirical findings from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies reporting biological activity and therapeutic efficacy in antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-carcinogenic, and chemo-sensitizing modes. Innovative delivery systems and personalized treatment approaches may further enhance their bioavailability and therapeutic utility in a synergistic approach with chemo- and radiotherapeutic disease management. This review underscores the importance of natural compounds in cancer prevention and treatment, promoting a multidisciplinary approach to the development of innovative therapeutic strategies.

Citing Articles

Much More than Nutrients: The Protective Effects of Nutraceuticals on the Blood-Brain Barrier in Diseases.

Kocsis A, Kucsapszky N, Santa-Maria A, Hunyadi A, Deli M, Walter F Nutrients. 2025; 17(5).

PMID: 40077636 PMC: 11901837. DOI: 10.3390/nu17050766.

Research for a Common Thread: Insights into the Mechanisms of Six Potential Anticancer Agents.

Varga D, Szentirmai A, Szarka A Molecules. 2025; 30(5).

PMID: 40076255 PMC: 11901853. DOI: 10.3390/molecules30051031.

Phytochemicals and their Nanoformulations for Overcoming Drug Resistance in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Pingping Z, Nan C, Yong T Pharm Res. 2025; .

PMID: 40032776 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-025-03836-0.

References

Lu K, Lu P, Lu E, Lin C, Yang S . Curcumin and its Analogs and Carriers: Potential Therapeutic Strategies for Human Osteosarcoma. Int J Biol Sci. 2023; 19(4):1241-1265. PMC: 10008701. DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.80590. View

Zhang C, Liao Y, Li T, Zhong H, Shan L, Yu P . Apigenin promotes apoptosis of 4T1 cells through PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 pathway and improves tumor immune microenvironment in vivo. Toxicol Res (Camb). 2024; 13(1):tfae011. PMC: 10811521. DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfae011. View

Ryan J, Heckler C, Ling M, Katz A, Williams J, Pentland A . Curcumin for radiation dermatitis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of thirty breast cancer patients. Radiat Res. 2013; 180(1):34-43. PMC: 3998827. DOI: 10.1667/RR3255.1. View

Donadio V, Incensi A, Rizzo G, Fileccia E, Ventruto F, Riva A . The Effect of Curcumin on Idiopathic Parkinson Disease: A Clinical and Skin Biopsy Study. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2022; 81(7):545-552. PMC: 9210322. DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlac034. View

Higurashi T, Hosono K, Takahashi H, Komiya Y, Umezawa S, Sakai E . Metformin for chemoprevention of metachronous colorectal adenoma or polyps in post-polypectomy patients without diabetes: a multicentre double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised phase 3 trial. Lancet Oncol. 2016; 17(4):475-483. DOI: 10.1016/S1470-2045(15)00565-3. View

Hidayat Y, Wagey F, Suardi D, Susanto H, Laihad B, Tobing M . Analysis of Curcumin as a Radiosensitizer in Cancer Therapy with Serum Survivin Examination: Randomised Control Trial. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2021; 22(1):139-143. PMC: 8184198. DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2021.22.1.139. View

Abbott N, Patabendige A, Dolman D, Yusof S, Begley D . Structure and function of the blood-brain barrier. Neurobiol Dis. 2009; 37(1):13-25. DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2009.07.030. View

Greenshields A, Doucette C, Sutton K, Madera L, Annan H, Yaffe P . Piperine inhibits the growth and motility of triple-negative breast cancer cells. Cancer Lett. 2014; 357(1):129-140. DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2014.11.017. View

Shahcheraghi S, Salemi F, Peirovi N, Ayatollahi J, Alam W, Khan H . Nrf2 Regulation by Curcumin: Molecular Aspects for Therapeutic Prospects. Molecules. 2022; 27(1). PMC: 8746993. DOI: 10.3390/molecules27010167. View

10.

Crocetto F, Boccellino M, Barone B, Di Zazzo E, Sciarra A, Galasso G . The Crosstalk between Prostate Cancer and Microbiota Inflammation: Nutraceutical Products Are Useful to Balance This Interplay?. Nutrients. 2020; 12(9). PMC: 7551491. DOI: 10.3390/nu12092648. View

11.

Zhang C, He L, Ye H, Liu D, Zhu Y, Miao D . Nrf2 is a key factor in the reversal effect of curcumin on multidrug resistance in the HCT‑8/5‑Fu human colorectal cancer cell line. Mol Med Rep. 2018; 18(6):5409-5416. PMC: 6236280. DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2018.9589. View

12.

Vogel V, Costantino J, Wickerham D, Cronin W, Cecchini R, Atkins J . Effects of tamoxifen vs raloxifene on the risk of developing invasive breast cancer and other disease outcomes: the NSABP Study of Tamoxifen and Raloxifene (STAR) P-2 trial. JAMA. 2006; 295(23):2727-41. DOI: 10.1001/jama.295.23.joc60074. View

13.

Kim G, Kang E . Prevention of Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Statins: Clinical Evidence and Plausible Mechanisms. Semin Liver Dis. 2019; 39(2):141-152. DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1679956. View

14.

Pruthi S, Heisey R, Bevers T . Chemoprevention for Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2015; 22(10):3230-5. PMC: 4550636. DOI: 10.1245/s10434-015-4715-9. View

15.

Huang T, Zhao J, Guo D, Pang H, Zhao Y, Song J . Curcumin mitigates axonal injury and neuronal cell apoptosis through the PERK/Nrf2 signaling pathway following diffuse axonal injury. Neuroreport. 2018; 29(8):661-677. PMC: 5959262. DOI: 10.1097/WNR.0000000000001015. View

16.

Bonilla-Vidal L, Switalska M, Espina M, Wietrzyk J, Garcia M, Souto E . Dually Active Apigenin-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers for Cancer Treatment. Int J Nanomedicine. 2023; 18:6979-6997. PMC: 10680483. DOI: 10.2147/IJN.S429565. View

17.

Buhrmann C, Yazdi M, Popper B, Shayan P, Goel A, Aggarwal B . Resveratrol Chemosensitizes TNF-β-Induced Survival of 5-FU-Treated Colorectal Cancer Cells. Nutrients. 2018; 10(7). PMC: 6073304. DOI: 10.3390/nu10070888. View

18.

Shoba G, Joy D, Joseph T, Majeed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas P . Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Med. 1998; 64(4):353-6. DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957450. View

19.

Colbert Maresso K, Tsai K, Brown P, Szabo E, Lippman S, Hawk E . Molecular cancer prevention: Current status and future directions. CA Cancer J Clin. 2015; 65(5):345-83. PMC: 4820069. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21287. View

20.

Leslie K, Lang C, Devgan G, Azare J, Berishaj M, Gerald W . Cyclin D1 is transcriptionally regulated by and required for transformation by activated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3. Cancer Res. 2006; 66(5):2544-52. DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-2203. View