Phytochemicals In Cervical Cancer Therapy: A Review of Recent Advances in Drug Design and Development

Cervical cancer is a main cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. Long-term infections with high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), such as HPV-16 and HPV-18, are a major cause of cervical cancer, it is also major causes of cancer-related mortality among women globally. Side effects and resistance indicate the need for more effective and specific therapy, even with the availability of HPV vaccines and chemoradiotherapy. Alongside advancements in silico drug discovery techniques, this research investigates the therapeutic properties of phytoconstituents derived from medicinal plants. The article explains the molecular foundation of HPV carcinogenesis, including how the oncoproteins E6 and E7 in tumour suppressors such as p53 and Rb. The research on natural compounds present in several plants that are thought to have anti-cervical cancer properties. This activity is authenticated using molecular docking, gene expression profiling and studies that involve cell lines. Major phytochemicals like lycopodine, andrographolide, berberine, and rotundifuran can trigger apoptosis, stop proliferation, and affect crucial carcinogenic pathways. These results highlight the importance of natural substances as additional or alternative therapeutic agents and advocate for ongoing research on these compounds via bioinformatics and experimental verification.