A Systematic Review Exploring the Phytochemical Composition and Anticancer Activities of Acacia catechu

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#acacia #humans #phytochemicals #antineoplastic-agents-phytogenic #antioxidants

A Systematic Review Exploring the Phytochemical Composition and Anticancer Activities of Acacia catechu

Rana et al., 2025 | Med Sci (Basel) | Systematic Review

Citation

Rana Navya, Bala Madhu, ... Kumar Sunil. A Systematic Review Exploring the Phytochemical Composition and Anticancer Activities of Acacia catechu. Med Sci (Basel). 2025-Sep-01;13(3). doi:10.3390/medsci13030161

Abstract

Background: Acacia catechu is an important traditional medicinal plant that has been used to manage several ailments. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that it exhibits chemopreventive and antineoplastic effects by modulating diverse signaling pathways and molecular targets involved in cancer progression. This review attempts to systematically investigate the anticancer mechanisms of A. catechu, encompassing antiapoptotic, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities. Material and Methods: This review was conducted using scientific databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, covering the studies from 2000 to 2024. The PRISMA methodology was applied, using the keywords A. catechu, phytoconstituents, and cancer. Results: A total of 39 studies were compiled from various databases that cited the biological use of A. catechu. The plant has an abundance of phenolic compounds, including catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, and epicatechin-3-O-gallate, which show strong anticancer activities. The anticancer potential of A. catechu is explained as it regulates several modulators like reactive oxygen species and cytokines, and downregulates oncogenic molecules like c-myc and various signaling pathways, such as c-Jun and NF-κB. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that A. catechu and its bioactive constituents have the potential for cancer prevention and therapy. However, further mechanistic investigations using pure compounds, along with preclinical and clinical trials, are essential to translate this potential into clinical applications.

Key Findings

A total of 39 studies were compiled from various databases that cited the biological use of A. catechu. The plant has an abundance of phenolic compounds, including catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, and epicatechin-3-O-gallate, which show strong anticancer activities. The anticancer potential of A. catechu is explained as it regulates several modulators like reactive oxygen species and cytokines, and downregulates oncogenic molecules like c-myc and various signaling pathways, s

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 39
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Acacia
  • Humans
  • Phytochemicals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Antioxidants
  • Plant Extracts
  • Neoplasms
  • Animals
  • Signal Transduction
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Apoptosis

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: green-tea

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09