“Anticancer properties of Natural products” – A Review

Abstract

The challenge of cancer remains one of the significant challenges for the health of the world; millions suffer every year. Despite the significant improvements in conventional approaches like chemotherapy and radiation and their continued inclusion in modern treatment protocols, the potential for toxic side effects and treatment resistance has led to a growing interest in alternative therapies. Natural products extracted from plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms constitute a major portion of traditional medicines. Researchers are now discovering these compounds for their anticancer activity. Researchers assert curcumin, resveratrol, and EGCG, among other important compounds, can prevent the proliferation of cancer cells, induce apoptosis, and suppress metastasis by activating a variety of pathways inside the cells. We discuss here the mechanisms through which these natural compounds cause apoptosis, control the cycle of a cell, possess anti-metastatic properties, and regulate redox. A major area of controversy remains the ability of natural products to complement traditional treatments—that is, their ability to enhance treatment results with synergistic effects.  The review also considers the challenges posed by the low solubility and poor bioavailability of compounds like curcumin and explores strategies to modify their structure for improved efficacy. Therefore, this review has advocated for additional research on natural products as complementary or alternative cancer treatments, with a focus on clinical applications and the identification of molecular mechanisms that could enhance therapeutic strategies. The results showed the potential of natural compounds in providing safer and more effective treatment options for cancer and encouraged further research on the integration of such natural compounds into mainstream oncology practices.