The Role of Medicinal Herbs and Phytochemicals in Cancer Management: A Review

Abstract

Bioactive compounds have demonstrated notable potential in the management of cancer and are recognized for their diverse therapeutic applications. Among these, phytochemicals have garnered significant attention for their capacity to modulate key cellular mechanisms involved in cancer development, particularly autophagy and apoptosis. The current body of evidence indicates that these naturally derived compounds may influence cancer pathogenesis by regulating interconnected pathways. Consequently, the targeting of the autophagy-apoptosis signaling axis using phytocompounds emerges as a promising adjunct strategy alongside conventional chemotherapeutic regimens. In order to enhance comprehension of the autophagy-apoptosis pathway's role in cancer pathobiology and its potential as a therapeutic target for the development of anticancer drugs, this review will attempt to delve into its molecular dynamics. A variety of credible scientific databases were systematically searched to retrieve data for this review. The effectiveness of phytochemicals as cancer treatments was assessed using a holistic method that took into account the compounds' molecular signaling connections, pharmacological profiles, and action mechanisms. From a cancer biology perspective, significant factors such as caspase activity, Nrf2, NF-κB, and the autophagy-apoptosis pathway are studied.