Natural bioactive molecules and chemotherapeutics synergism for enhanced cancer therapy

Abstract Background Chemotherapy remains a foundation of cancer care but is limited by multidrug resistance, systemic toxicities, and suboptimal selectivity, prompting interest in adjunctive strategies that improve efficacy and tolerability without adding significant burden to patients or healthcare systems. Aims/Objectives This review highlights evidence on natural bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, alkaloids, terpenoids, and fungal metabolites, as adjuvants to standard chemotherapeutics, with objectives to: first, delineate mechanisms by which these agents enhance cytotoxic efficacy and overcome resistance; second, summarize preclinical and clinical combination data; and third, evaluate their potential to mitigate chemotherapy-induced organ toxicities through pathway modulation. Results Natural bioactives modulate key oncogenic and stress-response pathways, such as NF-κB, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and NRF2/HO-1, thereby sensitizing tumors to chemotherapy, attenuating pro-survival signaling, and enhancing apoptosis while reducing inflammatory and oxidative injury in normal tissues. Exemplary combinations, including curcumin with 5‑fluorouracil and resveratrol with cisplatin, have demonstrated improved antitumor activity and reduced toxicity in preclinical models, with early clinical observations supporting feasibility and safety in selected settings. Additionally, several compounds exhibit organ-protective effects against cardiotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and gastrointestinal injury induced by chemotherapy, suggesting dual benefits on efficacy and tolerability profiles. Conclusions Integrating natural bioactives with conventional chemotherapy represents a promising strategy to enhance therapeutic index by concurrently amplifying antitumor mechanisms and mitigating dose‑limiting toxicities, though broader clinical validation and standardized quality controls are needed for routine adoption. Graphical abstract