Natural phenolic compounds for the potential treatment of cancer, mechanistic insights and advances in delivery systems

• Phenolic compounds are products of derivatives like glycoside, esters and methyl esters. • Flavonoids are related with a wide range of health-promoting properties. • Ferulic Acid can suppress cancer proliferation in different manners. Cancer is a prominent public health, economic and societal bane in contemporary time, accounting for about one in every six deaths (16.8 %) and one in four mortality (22.8 %) from non-communicable diseases globally. Asides being a major limitation to ameliorating life expectancy, this disease is related with substantial macroeconomic and societal expenses that differs in degree across gender, geography and cancer types. Although, there has been significant advancements in cancer treatments, challenges such as, severe side effects, limited long-term efficacy and drug resistance are still encountered. Therefore, it is critical to explore alternatives or adjuncts to conventional therapies like natural bioactive compounds as a potential feasible cancer treatment therapy. Bioactive components of natural compounds might provide benefits to human health beyond fundamental nutrition to the reduction of chronic illnesses including cancer. Phenolic compounds have earned significant interest amongst all the phytochemicals components due to their diverse bioactivities. They possess anti-carcinogenic properties as a result of the induction of cellular defence mechanisms, detoxification of enzymes and anti-inflammatory activities, and they possess vast health benefits to humans such anti-inflammatory, chemo-preventive, anti-mutagenic and anti-carcinogenic properties. However, rapid metabolism, dearth of extensive clinical trials and poor bioavailability hinders therapeutic application of this compound. These limitations could be addressed through the development of novel drug delivery systems such as the employment of innovative nanocarriers like nanobots and 2D/3D, combination therapies and structural modifications. These technologies have brought to light the delivery of phenolic compounds. In this study, a review on the anti-cancer actions and mechanisms of action of phenolic compounds, innovative pathways in which phenolic compounds can be delivered and Strategies for advancing phenolic compounds and their Nano-formulations from Preclinical research to Clinical and Market Utilization is summarized.