Harnessing The Role Of Rubiadin in Cancer: Current Scenario And Future Perspectives

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared cancer to be among the top four global causes of mortality, emphasizing the importance of early detection and effective treatment. It highlights the importance of creative therapeutic methods, particularly in studying natural substances with anti-cancer properties. Chemotherapeutic agents are associated with a risk of re-occurrence and serious adverse effects. Herbal medicines are known for better efficacy and tolerability with reduced adverse effects. Anthraquinones are introduced as a class of compounds with potential anticancer properties. Rubiadin, an anthraquinone, is obtained from natural and synthetic sources. This review highlights various aspects of rubiadin, starting with its natural sources and diverse applications detailing its chemical structure and analogues. Insights into synthetic pathways are provided, offering a comprehensive view of the compound beyond its chemical structure. The structural properties of rubiadin, including pharmacokinetics and molecular mechanisms underlying rubiadin's anticancer effects, providing a comprehensive mechanistic perspective, are outlined. Pre-clinical studies on rubiadin are systematically summarized, emphasizing the scientific methodology employed in these investigations. In conclusion, the review emphasizes the multifaceted potential of rubiadin as a natural anti-cancer agent and encourages further research and development of this compound.