Chemoprevention of natural product against oral cancer: A comprehensive review

Introduction: Oral cancer is considered the sixth most common form of cancer worldwide. It causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially in low socioeconomic status groups. However, Cancer chemoprevention encompasses the use of specific compounds to suppress the growth of tumours or inhibit carcinogenesis. Natural products have been identified as one of the most significant sources of anti-cancer agents. Meanwhile, several synthetic drugs exhibit potential cytotoxicity and can induce a wide range of degenerative diseases. Aim of the review: This review aims to determine the various plants, vegetables, and fruits possessing natural chemotherapeutic agents against oral cancer cells. Materials and methods: A comprehensive review of findings reported in articles retrieved from searches of computerised databases, hand searches, and authoritative texts. Inclusion databases include PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Scientific. Exclusion Computerised databases: Wikipedia or unknown sources. Results: Natural products have fewer side effects, high selectivity, low toxicity, and eliminate cancer cells. Thus, the application of natural products as alternative oral and other cancer therapies has recently demonstrated remarkable progress. Conclusion: Natural products have been widely used in developing oral anti-cancer drugs. Most of these natural products present bioactive chemical agents and novel mechanisms of action, such as the inhibition of tumour cell growth, the induction of apoptosis, DNA damage, and the inhibition of topoisomerases I and II. In future, the successful integration of natural products in oral cancer chemoprevention field depends on the advancement of molecular targeting, personalised approaches, and the exploration of novel drug delivery systems. Furthermore, integration of preclinical findings in clinical trials will be important for translating research into impactful interventions.