Bioactive Compounds as Therapeutic Intervention in Mucocutaneous Cancers

There are several beneficial effects of plant bioactive compounds in the evidence-based prevention and treatment of mucocutaneous cancers. For instance, several bioactive compounds via various antioxidant and immunomodulatory mechanisms have been shown to positively improve different diseases, including cancer. Considering the complex, multifactorial processes that regulate genetic and cellular function in cancer development, the use of small phytochemical molecules capable of targeting multiple carcinogenetic genes and pathways is plausible. Furthermore, the identification of molecular targets and cognate dietary bioactive molecules in mucocutaneous cancer, using applied combinatorial chemistry approaches, potentially presents a key complementary ancillary tool for developing robust, physiologically bioavailable, diversity-oriented, and cost-effective therapies. These systems biology and omics-based theragnostic tools are crucial for the management of cancers that affect the oral mucous membranes and skin in a resourcelimited setting. Natural products and nutraceuticals are poised to ameliorate the burden of mucocutaneous cancers and improve the drug discovery pipelines if state-of-the-art research techniques are used to elucidate their therapeutic values in the era of precision medicine. Hence, this review focuses on the currently available and potential therapeutic benefits of plant bioactive compounds in the prevention and management of mucocutaneous cancers.

Keywords: Bioactive compounds, Mucocutaneous cancers, Oral cancer, Phytocompounds, Skin cancer, Therapy.