The ethnopharmacological information gathered over many centuries and the presence of diverse metabolites have made the medicinal plants as the prime source of drugs. Despite the positive attributes of natural products, there are many questions pertaining to their mechanism of actions and molecular targets that impede their development as therapeutic agents. One of the major challenges in cancer research is the toxicity exerted by investigational agents towards the host. An understanding of their molecular targets, underlying mechanisms can reveal their anticancer efficacy, help in optimal therapeutic dose selection, to mitigate their side effects and toxicity towards the host. The purpose of this review is to collate details on natural products that are recently been investigated extensively in the past decade for their anticancer potential. Besides, critical analysis of their molecular targets and underlying mechanisms on multiple cancer cell lines, an in-depth probe of their toxicological screening on rodent models is outlined as well to observe the prevalence of their toxicity towards host. This review can provide valuable insights for researchers in developing methods, strategies during preclinical and clinical evaluation of anticancer candidates.

Chronic wounds pose significant clinical challenges due to microbial infections, excessive inflammation, and delayed wound healing. For this purpose, we developed a multifunctional self-healing conductive hydrogel loaded with gelatin (type A) capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and curcumin-embedded bovine serum albumin nanoparticles (CCANPs) to enhance antibacterial activity to enhance wound healing. AgNPs were synthesized via green synthesis using Syzygium samarangense leaf extract, demonstrating potent antibacterial properties. Curcumin, encapsulated in hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and chitosan-coated BSA nanoparticles (355.8 ± 9.45 nm size, 87.83% entrapment efficiency), exhibited pH-dependent sustained release (81.65% at pH 1.2, 70.84% at pH 7.4 over 24 h). These nanoparticles were incorporated into a PVA/PEG/polyaniline (PANI) hydrogel (F2 formulation: 15% PVA, 10% PEG, 2.5% PANI), which showed optimal swelling (110.26 ± 1.09%) and gel fraction (99.18 ± 0.08%). The hydrogel exhibited excellent mechanical flexibility (372.5% elongation) and viscoelastic solid-like behavior (G' > G″). The in vitro antimicrobial assays revealed synergistic effects against Staphylococcus aureus (33-35 mm inhibition zone) and Escherichia coli (27-31 mm), surpassing blank hydrogel controls. The drug release studies confirmed prolonged release kinetics (0.37% curcumin, 9.99% AgNPs over 24 h), ideal for chronic wound management, as a sustained release profile is achieved. This dual-nanoparticle-loaded conductive hydrogel can expedite tissue regeneration and cell proliferation. Its high biocompatibility, moisture retention, and antibacterial capabilities contribute to the healing of chronic and infected wounds.

1′-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) extracted from the rhizomes of Alpinia conchigera Griff (Zingiberaceae) has been shown to deregulate the NF-ĸB signaling pathway and induce apoptosis-mediated cell death in many cancer types. However, ACA is a hydrophobic ester, with poor solubility in an aqueous medium, limited bioavailability, and nonspecific targeting in vivo. To address these problems, ACA was encapsulated in a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) anchored with plerixafor octahydrochloride (AMD3100) to promote targeted delivery towards C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4)-expressing prostate cancer cells. The NLC was prepared using the melt and high sheer homogenization method, and it exhibited ideal physico-chemical properties, successful encapsulation and modification, and sustained rate of drug release. Furthermore, it demonstrated time-based and improved cellular uptake, and improved cytotoxic and anti-metastatic properties on PC-3 cells in vitro. Additionally, the in vivo animal tumor model revealed significant anti-tumor efficacy and reduction in pro-tumorigenic markers in comparison to the placebo, without affecting the weight and physiological states of the nude mice. Overall, ACA-loaded NLC with AMD3100 surface modification was successfully prepared with evidence of substantial anti-cancer efficacy. These results suggest the potential use of AMD3100-modified NLCs as a targeting carrier for cytotoxic drugs towards CXCR4-expressing cancer cells.