Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent form of liver cancer,
accounting for 85-90% of liver cancer cases and is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality
worldwide. The major risk factors for HCC include hepatitis C and B viral infections,
along with chronic liver diseases, such as cirrhosis, fibrosis, and non-alcoholic
steatohepatitis associated with metabolic syndrome. Despite the advancements in modern
medicine, there is a continuous rise in the annual global incidence rate of HCC, and
it is estimated to reach >1 million cases by 2025. Emerging research in phytomedicine
and chemotherapy has established the anti-cancer potential of phytochemicals, owing to
their diverse biological activities. In this review, we report the major phytochemicals
that have been explored in combating hepatocellular carcinoma and possess great potential
to be used as an alternative or in conjunction with the existing HCC treatment modalities.
An overview of the pre-clinical observations, mechanism of action and molecular
targets of some of these phytochemicals is also incorporated.
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