ABSTRACT
Plum mango (Bouea macrophylla Griffith) is an excellent source of phytochemicals credited with various health benefits – including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities – and reducing the symptoms of chronic diseases. This chapter reviews plum mango and its bioactive constituents (e.g., pentagalloyl glucose, ethyl gallate, gallic acid, and flavonoids), targeting, in particular, their anticancer effects. Overall, the findings of the results suggest that B. macrophylla extract (while phytochemicals) inhibited cancer cell growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion in addition to triggering apoptosis and cell cycle arrest against various cancers. In vivo results demonstrated a reduced tumor xenograft growth and inhibited lung and bone metastasis. Several potential anticancer mechanisms have been reported, including modulation of oxidative status, inhibition of survival signaling pathways, cancer stem cell suppression, and cell cycle regulators. Interestingly, B. macrophylla extract has been shown to enhance the sensitization of radiotherapy and chemotherapy and enhance their anticancer effects. Considering its sensitizing potential and relatively low toxicity profile, research has suggested that B. macrophylla extract could be a promising adjunct drug when used with conventional cancer therapy for a practical therapeutic approach to cancer treatment. Given the emerging positive preclinical effects of B. macrophylla extract, future research directions – especially clinical studies – are needed.
