Anticancer Studies on Dodonaea viscosa: A Systematic Review

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, contributing to significant global morbidity with nearly 10 million deaths recorded in 2020. Despite advancements in conventional treatments, the burden of cancer persists due to high treatment costs, severe side effects, and the emergence of multidrug resistance, prompting interest in alternative therapies, particularly natural products derived from medicinal plants. Among these, Dodonaea viscosa, a member of the Sapindaceae family, has been widely utilized in traditional medicine for various ailments. A comprehensive literature search across Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed identified 831 articles, with 19 studies selected based on predefined criteria related to anticancer effects. Critical review of the literature showed that D. viscosa has exhibited cytotoxic effects against multiple cancer types, including breast, colorectal, lung, liver, ovarian, leukemia, prostate, cervical, pancreatic, ehrlich ascites carcinoma, and laryngeal cancers. While in vitro studies provide compelling evidence of its cytotoxic potential, the review shows a critical gap in assessment of the selectivity and safety of the plant extracts, mechanistic studies, and in vivo research, presenting the need for further preclinical and clinical investigations to validate the efficacy of D. viscosa as a complementary therapeutic agent in oncology.