Anticancer Activity of Allium cepa through the Inactivation of NF-κB Pathway: A Literature-based Study

Allium cepa (onion) is a bulbous herb renowned for its diverse health benefits. This study aims to summarize the anticancer potential of A. cepa through the inactivation of the Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway by reviewing experimental findings across various cancer models. A thorough examination of the literature was carried out using databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. The findings revealed that phytochemicals such as stigmasterol, fisetin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, morin, kaempferol, luteolin, β-carotene, and β-sitosterol exhibit strong anticancer properties against various cancers, including breast, bladder, colon, colorectal, cervical, lung, liver, oral, pancreatic, and skin cancer, as supported by both in vivo and in vitro studies. These phytochemicals primarily exert their anticancer effects by blocking the NF-κB signaling pathway. However, further clinical research is needed to investigate its in vivo and in vitro study to determine its safety and efficacy in cancer treatment, with a focus on optimizing its therapeutic nature.