Elaeagnus Angustifolia: Unveiling Anti-Cancer Potential from Ancient Remedies to Modern Therapeutics

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for approximately 8.97 million deaths, and is projected to surpass ischemic heart disease as the leading cause by 2060. Lung, liver, and stomach cancers are the most lethal globally, while lung and breast cancers are the primary causes of cancer-related mortality in men and women, respectively. In response to this growing burden, there is an urgent need to explore novel therapeutic strategies beyond conventional treatments. Among these, plant-derived medicines offer promising alternatives.

This review investigates the anti-cancer potential of Elaeagnus angustifolia (EA), a medicinal plant traditionally used for its therapeutic properties, by synthesizing current evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies across breast, cervical, hepatocellular, oral, and colorectal cancer models.

EA has demonstrated anti-cancer activity in breast, cervical, hepatocellular, oral, and colorectal cancer models. Mechanistically, EA induces apoptosis, arrests the cell cycle, modulates HER2/JNK and PI3K/AKT pathways, inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition, suppresses angiogenesis, and reduces oxidative stress. While preclinical data are encouraging, animal studies remain limited and clinical validation is lacking.

EA shows promise as a therapeutic agent in cancer management. However, rigorous clinical trials are essential to confirm its safety and efficacy in humans. Future research should also explore its synergistic potential with conventional therapies and further elucidate its molecular mechanisms to support translational application.