Natural anti-cancer products: insights from herbal medicine

Abstract

Herbal medicine exhibits a broad spectrum of potent anti-cancer properties, including the enhancement of tumor immune responses, reversal of multidrug resistance, regulation of autophagy and ferroptosis, as well as anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-metastatic effects. This review systematically explores recent advances (primarily documented since 2019) in research on key anti-cancer compounds derived from herbal medicine, such as apigenin, artemisinin, berberine, curcumin, emodin, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), ginsenosides, icariin, resveratrol, silibinin, triptolide, and ursolic acid (UA). These studies were sourced from scientific databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Scopus, and Clinical Trials. The review focuses on the significant role that these natural products play in modern oncology, exploring their efficacy, mechanisms of action, and the challenges and prospects of integrating them into conventional cancer therapies. Furthermore, it highlights cutting-edge approaches in cancer research, such as the utilization of gut microbiota, omics technologies, synthetic derivatives, and advanced drug delivery systems (DDS). This review underscores the potential of these natural products to advance the development of novel anti-cancer treatments and support contemporary medicine. Additionally, recent multi-omics findings reveal how these compounds reshape transcriptional and metabolic networks, further broadening their therapeutic scope. Many natural products exhibit synergy with first-line chemotherapies or targeted therapies, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy and reducing side effects. Advanced nano-formulations and antibody-drug conjugates have also substantially improved their bioavailability, making them promising candidates for future translational research.

Keywords: Cancer; Chinese medicinal herb; Chinese medicine; Herbal medicine; Natural product.

Fig. 1

Natural compounds derived from herbal medicine with anti-cancer effects. The natural products are displayed with their chemical structures, herbal slices, and plant sources, including Apigenin, Artemisinin, Berberine, Curcumin, Emodin, Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), Ginsenoside Rg3, Icariin, Resveratrol, Silibinin, Triptolide, and Ursolic acid (UA)

Fig. 2

Key mechanisms in cancer biology, emphasizing both conventional and innovative ways of cancer cell death. Classical pathways include apoptosis, cell cycle, metastasis, and multidrug resistance, while novel pathways involve autophagy, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, and immune checkpoints. These processes highlight the adaptability of cancer cells and provide insights into potential therapeutic targets (Created with BioRender, https://BioRender.com/9bkp9cu)

Fig. 3

Research and development of natural anti-cancer compounds derived from herbal medicine. This figure comprehensively illustrates drug development models and techniques relevant to natural anti-cancer compounds, spanning from in silico simulations to in vivo experiments. It not only demonstrates the interconnections throughout the drug development process but also incorporates in vitro and ex vivo approaches, efficacy assays (e.g., HCS: High content screening), omics studies, target verification methods (e.g., CETSA: Cellular thermal shift assay, SPR: Surface plasmon resonance), drug modification strategies, and drug delivery systems, providing a holistic view of the entire drug development pipeline for natural anti-cancer compounds (Created with BioRender, https://BioRender.com/2a5479b)