Bioactive compounds from Actinidia arguta fruit as a new therapeutic approach to cutaneous melanoma

The use of natural products in disease prevention and therapy has gained considerable momentum, largely due to their abundance in health-beneficial bioactive constituents. Among these, Actinidia arguta (Siebold & Zucc.) Planch. ex Miq. (Actinidiaceae), commonly referred to as kiwiberry, has emerged as a promising candidate owing to its rich composition of phenolic acids, flavonoids, organic acids, vitamins, carotenoids, and dietary fibers. These compounds are associated with a wide array of biological functions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory, neuroprotective, and anticancer effects. Recent interest has grown around their application in managing cutaneous melanoma (CM), a highly aggressive form of skin cancer marked by rapid progression, early metastasis, and frequent therapeutic resistance. Despite the development of innovative therapies, outcomes for advanced CM remain poor, pointing to an urgent need for alternative strategies. Preliminary research suggests that bioactives from A. arguta may influence the melanoma progression by interfering with critical molecular pathways, particularly MAPK, PI3K/AKT, and Wnt/β-catenin, alongside reducing oxidative damage, impairing tumor cell growth and migration, and enhancing apoptotic responses. These findings point to the potential of kiwiberry-derived compounds as supportive or alternative treatments in melanoma care. Nevertheless, several challenges persist, including variability in compound composition, lack of formulation standardization, and limited systemic bioavailability. Addressing these limitations is essential for future clinical translation. Further studies, particularly in vivo and clinical trials, are needed to confirm both efficacy and safety. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the role of kiwiberry fruit-derived compounds in CM, offering insight into their mechanisms of action and possible integration into complementary therapeutic approaches. • A. arguta as a promising natural option to conventional cutaneous melanoma therapies • High phytochemical content offers robust anti-cancer properties • Altered signaling pathways in melanoma as key to developing improved treatments • Potential of natural compounds from A. arguta to target altered signaling pathways • Extremely high potential of using kiwiberries as an adjuvant to conventional therapies