Role of Fruit-Derived Antioxidants in Fighting Cancer: A Narrative Review

Cancer remains one of the most pressing global health concerns, ranking as the second leading cause of death worldwide. Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of cancer, making antioxidants a critical area of research in cancer prevention and treatment. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of fruit-derived antioxidants and their potential therapeutic applications in combating cancer. In particular, it looks at how bioactive compounds like flavonoids, polyphenols, and essential vitamins found in fruits help to neutralize reactive oxygen species, control gene activity, and stop tumors from spreading and growing. The review brings together new studies from the lab, on animals, and with people that show how fruit-derived antioxidants can help fight cancer, how they change important cellular pathways, and how they might work better when combined with other treatments. Furthermore, it discusses challenges related to bioavailability, standardization, and clinical translation, underscoring the need for more robust clinical trials. This review shows how important it is to include antioxidants from fruits in dietary guidelines and move forward with targeted research into their therapeutic use in cancer management. It does this by looking at the current evidence and pointing out research gaps.