Crithmum maritimum: Phytoconstituents composition, and potential anticancer activity in gastrointestinal cancer mechanisms and prospects

Crithmum maritimum (sea fennel, Chinese: 海茴香 [hǎi huí xiāng]) is an edible halophyte traditionally valued in both Mediterranean diets and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), where it is prescribed for “dissolving masses,” regulating qi, and resolving damp-heat/toxins—concepts aligned with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer effects. Rich in phenolic acids, flavonoids, essential oils, fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals, it shows potential against gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancers, a growing global health burden. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for studies published between 2010 and 2025, limited to English language studies, using keywords “Crithmum maritimum,” “sea fennel,” “gastrointestinal cancer,” “anticancer,” “polyphenols,” “essential oils,” and “bioactive compounds.” of 167 retrieved records, 133 met the inclusion criteria: original in vitro, in vivo, or clinical research evaluating C. maritimum or its constituents for anticancer activity in GIT malignancies. Exclusion criteria removed reviews without new data, unrelated species, and studies lacking mechanistic outcomes. C. maritimum exhibits preclinical efficacy against GIT cancers via modulation of p53, NRF2, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, aligning with its traditional TCM uses. Studies identified chlorogenic acid (30-50% of total polyphenol), gallic acid (15-20% of terpene), limonene, sabinene, α-pinene, γ-terpinene, fatty acids, and vitamin C as key anticancer agents that promote apoptosis, inhibit angiogenesis, and attenuate oxidative and inflammatory signaling in GIT cancer models. C. maritimum exhibits a broad phytochemical spectrum with multitargeted preclinical efficacy against GIT cancers, consistent with its historical TCM applications. Standardization, mechanistic validation, and clinical trials are required to advance its therapeutic integration. This review unites TCM tradition with modern biomedical evidence, highlighting C. maritimum as a promising natural agent for GIT cancer prevention and management, with mechanistic breadth well-suited to the multifactorial nature of these malignancies.