Unlocking the Anti-Cancer Potential of Gallic Acid - A Scientific Scoping Analysis

Background: Cancer remains one of the top causes of death worldwide and, consequently, sparks the interest in the pursuit of safer and more effective therapeutic approaches. In recent decades, scientific interest has shifted to natural compounds for their potential therapeutic applications. Gallic acid (GA) is a polyphenolic compound derived from various fruits, herbs, and other plant-based sources that has emerged as a promising candidate based on its antioxidant and anticancer properties. This review intended to summarize the state of recent findings from 2010 to 2024 on anticancer effects, focusing on the mode of action of gallic acid, synergism with chemotherapeutic agents, and nanotechnology development in its delivery systems. Methods: A literature search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar was made for relevant studies. Experimental and preclinical studies dealing with the role of gallic acid in different types of cancers were included. Results: The articles reviewed clearly show that gallic acid exerts its potent anticancer efficacy through a wide variety of mechanisms. It inhibits cancer cell proliferation, induces apoptosis, reduces inflammation, and suppresses metastasis of tumours. At the mechanistic level, GA adjusts some critical signalling pathways related to the survival and progression of cancer cells, particularly PI3K/Akt and MAPK. Combination of GA with other chemotherapeutic drugs increases the efficacy of treatment, whereas nanoparticle formulations improve its bioavailability and targeted delivery. Conclusion: This scoping analysis states that gallic acid is one of the promising natural anticancer agents that has considerable preclinical evidence to support its therapeutic benefits. However, more human clinical trials must be conducted to confirm its safety, dosage parameters, and clinical efficacy in order to be recommended for complementary or standalone therapies.