Lung cancer remains one of the most prevalent and deadly malignancies worldwide, necessitating the development of more effective and less toxic therapeutic strategies. Phytochemicals-bioactive compounds derived from plants have garnered significant attention for their potential anticancer properties. This review highlights the phytochemical constitution of various medicinal plants and their mechanistic roles in combating lung cancer. Key classes of phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and phenolic acids, demonstrate anticancer effects through multiple pathways, including the induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell proliferation, suppression of angiogenesis, and modulation of signaling pathways like PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and NF-?B. Compounds such as curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) have shown promising results in preclinical and clinical settings. Moreover, phytochemicals may enhance the efficacy of conventional chemotherapeutics while reducing their side effects. This review highlights the potential of plant-derived compounds as complementary or alternative therapeutic agents for lung cancer and encourages further research into their clinical applicability and molecular mechanisms.
Maurya et al. (Wed,) studied this question.