Anethole in cancer therapy: Mechanisms, synergistic potential, and clinical challenges

Cancer remains a major global health challenge, prompting the search for effective and less toxic treatments. Anethole, a bioactive compound found in essential oils of anise and fennel, commonly used as a food preservative, has recently garnered attention for its potential anti-cancer properties. This comprehensive review aims to systematically assess the anti-cancer effects of anethole, elucidating its mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and synergistic potential with conventional cancer therapies. A detailed literature search was conducted across databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Criteria for inclusion were experimental studies in peer-reviewed journals focusing on the anti-cancer properties of anethole. Extracted data included study design, intervention specifics, measured outcomes, and mechanistic insights. Anethole demonstrates multiple anti-cancer mechanisms, such as inducing apoptosis, causing cell cycle arrest, exhibiting anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic effects, and modulating critical signaling pathways including NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and caspases. It enhances the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents like cisplatin and doxorubicin while reducing their toxicity. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown its effectiveness against various cancers, including breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers. Anethole shows significant potential as an anti-cancer agent, with its multi-faceted mechanisms of action and ability to synergize with existing chemotherapy. Further clinical research is essential to fully understand its therapeutic potential and application in oncology.