Phytomedicine and Prostate Cancer: A Review on Risk Factors, Progression,and Therapeutic Potential of Plant-Derived Bioactive Compounds

Abstract

Prostate cancer (PC) is the most predominant malignant disease among men, with the highest incidence and fatality rates. Anatomically, the human prostate gland is distinguished into different zones, including the peripheral, central, and transition zones. The genesis of PC usually occurs in the central zone. A multitude of factors, notably aging, elicit an asymmetrical enlargement and inflammation of the prostate. This condition fuels benign infections leading to benign prostatic hyperplasia in the prostate gland and is a pre-cursor to PC. Generally, not all men
succumb to this condition; however, the dissemination of the tumor to secondary sites escalates mortality rates. In this context, comprehension of the vulnerability factors and risk stratification can aid in the prognostication
of the disease. So far, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are integral parts of the exhaustive treatment scheme for PC. Nonetheless, studies reveal that a larger proportion of patients choose phytomedicine as an adjunct to mainstream therapy due to its broad applicability and accessibility. Precisely, numerous plant-derived bioactive compounds provide rationales for the pathobiology of cancer progression. Although traditional phytotherapy has been acknowledged for managing cancer, there is a paucity of literature that incorporates traditional wisdom with
modern herbal medicine. In light of this, the objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive insight into the biology, vulnerable factors, grading, and current therapies of PC. In addition, it also highlights a detailed analysis and description of the most recent research on phytomedicine and its multifunctional roles in PC therapy.