Nature‐Inspired Anticancer Agents: The Synergy of Phytochemicals and Synthetic Analogs (2019–2024)

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the most formidable global health challenges, marked by uncontrolled cell growth and division. Despite medical advancements, traditional treatments often fall short due to issues of specificity, resistance, and toxicity, compounded by the complex pathophysiology of the disease. In this context, natural products, particularly phytochemicals, have emerged as promising anticancer agents. Compounds such as vinca alkaloids, curcuminoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, polyphenols, and others have demonstrated potent anticancer properties by targeting key molecular pathways, including protein kinases, aromatase, EGFR, TNF-α, HER-2, and caspases. This review explores recent advancements in phytochemical research from 2019 to 2024 and includes natural product-inspired synthetic derivatives with enhanced therapeutic potential. A comprehensive literature survey was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Keywords used included "phytochemicals," "natural products," "cancer," "anticancer agents," "kinase inhibitors," "EGFR," "HER2," "aromatase," and "synthetic analogs." Articles were selected based on relevance, recency, and impact in the field. By providing mechanistic insights and highlighting novel compounds with clinical relevance, this work underscores the critical role of phytochemicals and their derivatives in addressing current therapeutic limitations and shaping future cancer treatments.

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