Anticancer Activity of Anthocyanins: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Anthocyanins, a class of organic pigments that give fruits, vegetables, and flowers their vivid colours, have attracted a lot of interest recently because of their conceivable health advantages. The significance of anthocyanins in the prevention and treatment of cancer has been the subject of numerous studies, and mounting evidence points to their promising anticancer capabilities. The goal of this in-depth review is to compile and evaluate the most recent information on the anticancer properties of anthocyanins. An overview of the molecular pathways behind cancer formation, including cell proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and metastasis, is given in the review's opening paragraph. The sources of anthocyanins are then examined in detail, including berries, cherries, grapes, and other fruits and vegetables. The review's ensuing parts dig into the vast in vitro and in vivo tests that have looked at anthocyanins' anticancer properties. These studies include a variety of cancer types, including liver, breast, colon, lung, and other types. The review emphasises how anthocyanins can cause cell cycle arrest and apoptosis as well as hinder cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. The review also clarifies the molecular processes through which anthocyanins exert their anticancer effects. Several signalling pathways, including PI3K/Akt, MAPK, NF-B, and STAT3, among others, are modulated by these processes. The review also covers how anthocyanins control oxidative stress, inflammation, and angiogenesis—all of which are crucial for the development of cancer.