An Updated Review on the Anticancer Activities of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Cancer remains a major global health challenge, necessitating the development of novel and safe therapeutic agents. Medicinal plants are recognized as valuable sources of bioactive molecules with anticancer potential. Cecropia pachystachya Trécul (Urticaceae), a species traditionally used in South American medicine, has recently garnered attention for its cytotoxic and antitumor properties. This review highlights cancer-related findings published primarily over the last five years, focusing on cytotoxic effects, anticancer mechanisms, active phytoconstituents, experimental cancer models, and future research directions. Recent studies indicate that C. pachystachya exhibits anticancer activity against lung cancer, prostate cancer, and glioma. However, a lack of comprehensive mechanistic studies, clinical trials, and pharmacokinetic data represent significant gaps in current knowledge. This review underscores the potential of C. pachystachya as a source of anticancer compounds and identifies essential avenues for future research using advanced molecular and clinical investigation.

Keywords: Cecropia pachystachya; Anticancer; Cytotoxicity; Glioma; Prostate Cancer; Natural Products

Citation

Ahmad Jan S, Asad Anwar M. An Updated Review on the Anticancer Activities of Cecropia pachystachya Trécul: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives. WebLog J Oncol. wjo.2026.i1004. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22851608