Nature's Hidden Arsenal: Unveiling the Anticancer Potential of Eugenia Species

The genus Eugenia comprises approximately 1050 species widely used in traditional medicine and human nutrition due to their diverse pharmacological properties. This review aimed to critically summarize the anticancer potential of Eugenia species and to correlate their biological activities with the presence of bioactive phytochemicals. Literature published between 2013 and 2025 was retrieved from PubMed, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases using terms related to Eugenia, cancer, antiproliferative, and cytotoxic activities. Increasing evidence has demonstrated the anticancer effects of selected Eugenia species in in silico, in vitro, and in vivo models against different cancer types. These effects are associated with multiple mechanisms, including apoptosis induction via caspase-3/7 activation and Fas receptor upregulation, inhibition of tumor cell migration and invasion through suppression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and cell cycle arrest. The observed activities are closely related to the presence of flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoids, monoterpenes, triterpenes, and sesquiterpenes. Despite promising preclinical findings, limitations such as the scarcity of in vivo studies, lack of extract standardization, and absence of clinical trials still hinder the translational application of Eugenia-derived compounds in oncology. Future studies focusing on mechanistic elucidation, bioavailability, toxicity, and clinical validation are essential for the development of Eugenia-based anticancer therapies.