Harnessing the Therapeutic Attributes of Nutraceuticals in Cancer Management: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Future Directions
Om Prakash, Priyanka Bajpai · Current Functional Foods · 2025
Objective: Cancer is a complex disease with a multifactorial aetiology, demanding a holistic approach to treatment. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the po-tential role of nutraceuticals as adjunctive or alternative therapies for cancer management. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted, analyzing epidemiological studies, mode of action, and preclinical and clinical evidence, that investigate the correlation between nutraceuticals consumption and reduced cancer risk. The mechanisms through which nutraceuticals exert anti-tumour effects were examined, including their impact on mo-lecular pathways and specific targets in cancer cells. Results: Nutraceuticals, which include bioactive compounds derived from natural sources such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices, have demonstrated promising anti-cancer prop-erties through various mechanisms, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiprolifera-tive, and pro-apoptotic effects. Conclusion: This comprehensive review examines the current evidence regarding the effi-cacy and safety of various nutraceuticals in cancer treatment, highlighting their potential mechanisms of action, preclinical and clinical studies, as well as challenges and future di-rections in this rapidly evolving field.