Harnessing Phytochemicals for Brain Cancer Therapy: Insights Into Medulloblastoma and Glioblastoma Treatment

Primary brain tumors are life-threatening diseases. Glioblastoma is the most aggressive type with a poor prognosis. Medulloblastoma is the most common pediatric brain tumor. While surgical treatments often result in recurrences owing to the complex nature of the tumor microenvironment, conventional treatments lower the quality of life of patients by causing serious side effects. Therefore, cutting-edge therapies are required to alleviate patients' burden. Phytochemicals such as curcumin, quercetin, berberine, and resveratrol have been shown as potential therapeutic agents by demonstrating anticancer activity, including the inhibition of cell migration and proliferation, and the induction of apoptosis. This review summarizes the pharmacokinetic and cellular effects of phytochemicals that can be utilized in the treatment of medulloblastoma and glioblastoma by targeting cellular pathways associated with the progression of these diseases. Additionally, the synergistic relationships of these phytochemicals with traditional drugs and the emerging studies that utilize nanotechnology to ensure effective delivery of phytochemicals are covered in this review.