Phytochemicals as Promising Therapeutics in Cancer Prevention and Treatment: Mechanisms and Applications

Abstract: Cancer remains a major cause of global morbidity and mortality, with rising inci-dence and limited effectiveness of conventional therapies due to systemic toxicity, adverse effects, and multidrug resistance. These limitations underscore the need for safer, targeted, and biologically effective therapeutic alternatives. Phytochemicals, naturally occurring compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and polyphenols, have garnered consider-able attention due to their broad-spectrum anticancer activities and favorable safety profiles. This review assesses the therapeutic potential of phytochemicals in cancer prevention and treatment, focusing on their molecular mechanisms, pharmacological relevance, and translational applications. A comprehensive literature survey of peer-reviewed articles, clinical studies, and database reports (2015–2025) was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Web of Science with search terms including “phytochemicals,” “plant-derived compound”, “cancer”, “tumor”, “anticancer activity,” “molecular mechanisms,” “chemopre-vention,” “combination therapy,” and “chemotherapy” with Boolean operators. Phytochem-icals demonstrated significant anticancer effects by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, suppressing angiogenesis, and modulating key oncogenic pathways, such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK/ERK, and NF-κB. Clinically approved phytochemical-based drugs, including paclitaxel and vinblastine, validate their therapeutic relevance, while compounds such as curcumin and resveratrol show encouraging outcomes in ongoing studies. Synergistic interactions with conventional chemotherapeutics further enhance their therapeutic potential. Overall, phytochemicals exert multi-targeted actions regulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell survival pathways, offering advantages of reduced toxicity and enhanced efficacy. However, challenges such as poor solubility and low bioavailability limit their clinical translation. Continued efforts toward advanced formulations and robust clinical validation are essential to advance their integration into modern cancer therapeutics.