Morin: A Comprehensive Review on Its Versatile Biological Activity and Associated Therapeutic Potential in Treating Cancers

Herbal traditional medicines are used for the treatment of human diseases and associated complications from the medieval periods. Flavonoids are naturally occurring dietary compounds having distinct biological properties. Morin is a pentahydroxyflavone obtained from the leaves, stems, and fruits of various plants, and Chinese herbs, particularly from the Moraceae family. Morin is a flavanol exhibiting diverse pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and free radical scavenging and helps treat diseases such as diabetes, myocardial infarction, mastitis, gastritis including cancer. Scientific data about the therapeutic potential of morin against cancers supported by traditional medicine has been collected from PubMed, Google Scholar, Google, and Science Direct by employing the search terms ‘MORIN,’ ‘PENTAFLAVONOIDS,’ and ‘CANCER.’ Moreover, for obtaining the use of morin in Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM), the TCM-ID database was searched by using the term ‘MORIN’ which encompasses all the research and clinical investigations of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Scientific data on morin signifies the biological importance and therapeutic potential of morin. Various scientific studies conducted in both in-vitro and in-vivo discuss the therapeutic potential of morin in treating various forms of cancers. Morin exhibited anti-cancer activity by modulating different cellular signalings pathways such as Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-қB), Janus kinases/Signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (JAKs/STATs), Endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Kelch-like ECH-associated protein1/Nuclear erythroid-2-related factor (Keap1/Nrf2), Wnt/β-catenin and Mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis. The current article discusses the recent developments that investigated the biological/pharmacological importance and associated underlying molecular mechanisms to better comprehend Morin's health benefits.