HERBS USED IN BREAST CANCER MANAGEMENT AS A POTENTIAL ADJUVANT THERAPY

Breast cancer is a biologically heterogeneous disease that is managed using multimodal approaches selected based on disease stage and tumour subtype. There is growing interest in medicinal plants and their phytoconstituents as several natural molecules have been shown to influence multiple processes involved in tumour progression, including proliferation, apoptosis, inflammation, angiogenesis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition and drug resistance. This review examines five botanicals frequently investigated in relation to breast cancer: Curcuma longa (curcumin), Nigella sativa (thymoquinone), Camellia sinensis (epigallocatechin-3-gallate; EGCG), Zingiber officinale (gingerols, particularly 6-gingerol) and Panax ginseng (ginsenosides). Evidence was synthesized from PubMed-indexed reviews, preclinical studies and selected human studies, with emphasis on breast-cancer-specific mechanisms and potential adjuvant relevance. Curcumin currently has the most developed human evidence among the five, although clinical findings remain mixed and formulation/ bioavailability remain major barriers. EGCG has a substantial mechanistic literature and early clinical safety/biomarker data, whereas gingerols, thymoquinone and ginsenosides remain predominantly supported by preclinical evidence with fewer breast-cancer-specific interventional data. Across all five herbs, standardization of extracts, dose selection, pharmacokinetic characterization, herb–drug interaction assessment and adequately powered randomized trials are essential before routine oncology use can be recommended. Overall, such botanicals represent research candidates for adjunctive therapy rather than established substitutes for conventional breast cancer treatment.