Publication

Abstract : Breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy among women with approximately 2.3 million cases diagnosed globally each year. There are several therapeutic options available for the treatment of breast cancer, but most of them have a multitude of undesirable side effects. Natural products have been known to be effective against various chronic disease conditions including cancer. Plant-derived substances demonstrated potential anticancer properties against breast cancer. Phytopigments, naturally occurring compounds responsible for the vibrant colors in plants, have emerged as promising candidates due to their potent anticancer properties. Specific bioactive phytopigments have shown chemo-preventive effects, highlighting their potential as complementary or alternative therapies. They exert antineoplastic effects through various mechanisms, mainly inducing autophagy, inhibiting intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways, and causing cell cycle arrest. In addition, they exhibit antimetastatic and antiangiogenic properties. The plant pigments were selected based on the clinical and preclinical evidence against breast cancer. They are lycopene, β-carotene, lutein, curcumin, quercetin, chlorophyllin, cyanidin, and delphinidin. This chapter highlights the potent antitumor properties of eight selected plant pigments reported over the past decade.