Sustainable Strategies for Cancer Phytomedicine: Balancing Efficacy and the Environment Responsibility

Abstract

Cancer is a complex disease, with approximately six million new cases reported annually. Despite the numerous treatment strategies employed worldwide, the severity of cancer continues to increase. Conventional cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, are standard practices, but their clinical success is constrained by toxic side effects leading to damage to healthy tissues, unavoidable off-target effects, and significant cancer recurrence resulting from incomplete surgical removal. Therefore, interest in alternative therapies sourced primarily from natural products is increasing. The popularity of phytomedicine in cancer treatment approaches is increasing because of its efficacy, affordability, accessibility, and minimal adverse effects. Additionally, green chemistry approaches can be used to synthesize a wide array of anticancer drugs with various chemical structures, enhancing their therapeutic efficacy while minimizing or eliminating side effects and toxicity. The enhanced efficacy of cancer medicines made from plants is achieved via molecular innovations that support precise targeting. Various drug delivery systems that aim to reduce environmental pollution while reducing waste can be optimized for better results in therapy through nanotechnology. The delivery of effective cancer therapies while preserving the environment for generations to come is the objective of this approach, which includes green chemistry, sustainable production, and molecular developments. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.