Chemopreventive Role of Phytoconstituents in Breast Cancer: An Integration Therapy

As we enter into the era of modern medicine, breast cancer remains a significant public health concern that has a noteworthy global impact in developed and developing countries. The modern era has seen an increase in the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression, leading to many anticancer drugs. The practice of curing certain diseases with the help of plant-derived compounds was one of the traditional methods. Phytochemicals and derivatives present in plants have shown a promising effect for improving efficiency in the treatment of cancer patients and reducing adverse reactions such as integration therapy with chemotherapeutic agents. The primary objective of this review is to compile ongoing research, preclinical studies, and clinical trials of some of the important phytochemicals. In recent years, increasing evidence from preclinical and clinical studies suggests that phytochemicals can favorably modulate several signaling pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Furthermore, phytoconstituents or plant- derived compounds show synergistic action against breast cancer when integrated with chemotherapy. Thus, the therapeutic potential of naturally occurring phytochemicals is of great interest as a part of integration therapy in cancer care. This review focuses on phytochemicals from quinones, terpenoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, steroidal lactones, and glycosides classes that help treat breast cancer. In addition, the phytochemicals act by various pharmacological mechanisms like carcinogen inactivation, inhibiting proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. Collectively, detailed information about specific classes of phytoconstituents along with their mechanism of action is mentioned in this review.