Natural Products Journal, The - Volume 16, Issue 2, 2026

Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) holds a significant position globally among cancer types. Alkaloids, which are natural compounds containing nitrogen atoms, are found in various plant sources and play a crucial role in anti-cancer activity, offering potential therapeutic applications. They are classified by their chemical structure into categories such as indole alkaloids, isoquinoline alkaloids, pyrrole and pyrrolizidine alkaloids, β-carboline and benzoquinolizidine alkaloids, quinazoline alkaloids, and diterpene alkaloids. Alkaloid-based treatments offer several advantages in drug design, including high bioavailability, lower toxicity, and effective therapeutic outcomes. Drugs like vinca alkaloids, camptothecin, and sanguinarine demonstrate high efficacy against lung cancer cells. Combination therapy involving alkaloids can prevent chemoresistance and exhibit high potency against cancer cells. This review highlights the importance of alkaloids in combating chemoresistance in lung cancer. The mechanisms by which alkaloids inhibit the EGFR/AKT/MAPK signaling pathways and induce apoptosis are discussed in detail. In the future, alkaloid-based therapeutics for NSCLC and other malignancies may be explored as advanced and effective treatment options.

Tea is a popular beverage that comprises various antioxidants. Tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. The three ideal types of tea include black, white, and green teas. Catechin, Epicatechin gallate, and Epicatechin are the striped flavonoids coeval in the tea. These flavonoids are freed as a rich source for blood circulation in the heart. Tea possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, anti-arthritic, anti-thrombotic, antimicrobial, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-cholesterol, anti-hyperglycemic, and immuno-protective properties. Modern empowering research studies contemplate that minimal consumption of tea can also be of advantage to the cardiovascular system (CVS) as it modulates oxidative stress. Consumption of tea is beneficial for cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysms, peripheral artery disease, stroke, ischemic heart disease, and cardiomyopathy. Consumption of excess tea may also be detrimental to health, and we highlight different types of tea. The main aim of the present narrative review is to highlight the natural compounds present in tea and discuss their mechanism of action on the cardiovascular system. Based on evidence gathered from published literature, it is thereby concluded that tea is a popular drink with potential cardiovascular health benefits.

Natural substances are gaining interest as anticancer agents nowadays due to the adverse effects of synthetic drugs. Among various natural substances, lycopene has emerged as a strong antioxidant agent and has been found to be effective against prostate, breast, colon, ovarian, liver, endometrial cancers, etc. This article reviews the therapeutic potential and proposed mechanism of action of lycopene against breast and gynecological cancer from 2005 to now. Experimental studies suggest that lycopene can inhibit tumor growth by regulating various signaling pathways for cell growth, arresting the cell cycle, and inducing cell apoptosis. Lycopene is reported to combat breast cancer specifically via mechanisms, such as regulation of expression of p53 and Bax, suppression of cyclin D, inhibiting the activation of ERK and Akt signaling pathway, and gynecological cancer via various signaling pathways such as STAT3, Nrf2, and NF-κB, down-regulation of ITGB1, ITGA5, FAK, MMP9, and EMT markers, etc.

Of the several forms of breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive, it is not responsive to traditional human/hormonal epithelial growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapies because the corresponding receptor targets are absent, TNBC tends to be more invasive in form, metastasis, have an early recurrence rate and develop medication resistance. For TNBC, some of the most popular types of treatments are resection, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Several studies are being carried out for the development of novel treatment approaches for improved TNBC diagnosis. As our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms behind the development of cancer has grown, a vast array of anticancer drugs has been developed. The use of chemically produced pharmaceuticals has not significantly raised the overall survival rate over the previous few decades. As such, novel approaches and cutting-edge chemopreventive medications are needed to improve the efficacy of existing TNBC therapies. Naturally occurring compounds derived from plants called phytochemicals are valuable resources for the development of novel medications for TNBC treatment. These phytochemicals often function by modulating molecular pathways associated with the onset and propagation of TNBC. Some of the specific methods include boosting antioxidant status, deactivating carcinogens, stopping proliferation, inducing cell cycle arrest, promoting apoptosis, and immune system modulation. This review's main goal is to give a summary of the active components of natural products, together with details on their molecular targets, pharmacological action, and current level of understanding. Several natural compounds that particularly target the pathways linked to TNBC in our study have been thoroughly described by us. We have done extensive research on many natural substances that could lead to the discovery of new targets for TNBC treatment.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a nonspecific, prolonged, and recurrent autoimmune disease characterized by diarrhea, mucopurulent stools, and abdominal pain. Modern medicine believes that the disease is related to infectious, genetic, psychiatric, allergic and especially autoimmune factors, but the exact cause is unknown. Given that the disease is recurrent, aggravating and persistent, and has a certain cancer rate, it is increasingly urgent to find effective treatments. It has been proved that UC is related to the abnormal regulation of signaling pathways in the body, dysregulation of intestinal ecology, and intestinal immune disorders, and natural products active ingredients for the treatment of UC have the advantage of long-term efficacy and less toxic side effects compared to existing drugs. This paper reviews the pharmacological mechanisms associated with UC to gain insight into the therapeutic mechanisms of natural products active ingredients for UC and to better understand the advantages and potential of natural products active ingredients in the treatment of UC. This will provide guidance for the development of new therapeutic strategies and drugs, and offer new hope for improving the quality of life of patients with UC.

A natural product is a natural compound or substance produced by a living organism, that is, found in nature. The term natural product has also been prolonged for commercial purposes to refers to dietary supplements, cosmetics and food produced from natural sources without added artificial ingredients. Luteolin, a bioflavonoid found abundantly in various fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential pharmacological properties. This comprehensive review explores the multifaceted aspects of luteolin, encompassing clinical studies, experimental research, kinetic analyses, nanotechnology-based formulations, and synergistic interactions with conventional drugs. The introduction section describes the various sources and biological functions of luteolin and emphasizes its importance in the realm of medicine. The clinical studies section provides insights into the therapeutic potential of luteolin in various human diseases, highlighting its efficacy, safety profile, and potential mechanisms of action. Experimental studies exploring luteolin's mechanisms of action, cellular interactions, and therapeutic effects in various disease models. It elucidates underlying the biological mechanism of luteolin, shedding light on its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, a detailed pharmacokinetic study examines the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of luteolin, offering valuable information for optimizing its dosing regimens and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. The integration of nanotechnology in luteolin formulations is discussed, focusing on innovative nanoformulations that improve its solubility, stability, and targeted delivery, thus enhancing its bioavailability and efficacy. Additionally, this review delves into the synergistic interactions between luteolin and conventional drugs, emphasizing the potential for combination therapies to enhance treatment outcomes and reduce adverse effects. The synergistic mechanisms, preclinical and clinical evidence, and future prospects of these combinations are explored in detail. Future applications of luteolin appear to be very promising in a variety of fields, including personalized medicine, disease-specific medicines, and preventative healthcare.