Natural Compounds From Vietnamese Medicinal Herbs At The Intersection Of Cancer Cell Proliferation And Cellular Ageing: An Integrative Review Of Experimental Evidence And Ecological Determinants

Abstract

Cancer continues to represent one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide, accounting for millions of deaths each year and placing immense economic and social strain on healthcare systems. According to WHO (2025), Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths. Furthermore, Ageing is a biological process that is based on the loss of cellular functionality and is intertwined with the development of cancer to an extent. Moreover, senescence refers to the permanent growth arrest of cells that develops with age and involves profound molecular and metabolic alterations. Consequently, according to Alavimanesh et al. (2025) senescent cells release proinflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and proteases collectively known as the senescence associated secretory phenotype, which alter the tissue microenvironment and, under specific conditions, facilitate tumour initiation. Simultaneously, the process of senescence has the potential to inhibit the malignant transformation by preventing the proliferation of the damaged cells. This bivalent property of ageing and senescence has generated a scientific interest in compounds that have the ability to regulate these pathways to inhibit cancer progression or slow down cellular decay. Natural products of medicinal herbs have offered some of the most promising therapeutic leads in oncology and gerontology over the past decades. In addition, according to Tungmunnithum et al. (2018) Plant molecules like alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic acids have a variety of biological effects, including induction of apoptosis, inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation. Their structural diversity, ecological adaptation and biochemical specificity make them valuable templates of drug discovery.