Role of phytochemicals in anticancer drug development

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The development of effective and safe anticancer drugs continues to be a major challenge in medical science. Phytochemicals, naturally occurring bioactive compounds derived from plants, have gained significant attention due to their diverse pharmacological properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. Many modern anticancer drugs such as paclitaxel, vincristine, and camptothecin have originated from plant sources. This review highlights the classification, mechanisms of action, molecular targets, and recent advances in phytochemical-based anticancer drug development. The paper also discusses limitations and future prospects in translating phytochemicals into clinically approved anticancer agents.

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