The Role of Medicinal Plants in Modulating Epigenetic Mechanisms: Implications for Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Abstract

Cancer remains a significant global health challenge, with its progression driven by both genetic mutations and reversible epigenetic modifications. This review highlights the potential of phytochemicals to modulate epigenetic mechanisms for cancer prevention and treatment. Natural compounds such as quercetin, EGCG, genistein, and β-elemene interact with key processes such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA regulation. These mechanisms enable the reactivation of tumor suppressor genes, increased sensitivity to conventional therapy and mitigation of drug resistance. For instance, EGCG improves the efficacy of cisplatin by altering DNA methylation patterns, while genistein influences breast cancer progression through HER2 pathway regulation. However, challenges such as low bioavailability, variability in compound composition, and the need for robust clinical validation remain. Further high-quality clinical trials are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of these compounds in cancer prevention and therapy.