miRNA‐Directed Anticancer Strategies: The Emerging Role of Natural Products in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Ovarian cancer (OC) is still one of the most serious gynecologic malignancies in the world. It is characterized by a significant likelihood of recurrence and resistance to conventional therapies and a lack of efficient screening techniques. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules that exert pivotal functions in modulating gene expression. miRNAs are improperly regulated in OC, contributing to tumor onset, progression, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapeutics. As a result, miRNAs are promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of OC. Recently, natural products derived from plants and other sources have drawn more interest because of their potential to modulate miRNA expression. A variety of bioactive substances, such as curcumin, quercetin, and others, have shown the ability to either promote tumor-suppressing miRNAs or suppress tumor-promoting miRNAs. These substances have a great deal of promise for improving the effectiveness of traditional chemotherapy, lowering adverse effects, and providing more individualized treatment plans. Additionally, their capacity to target several miRNAs implicated in cancer-related pathways offers a multimodal strategy for treating OC. We can upgrade the potential therapeutic options for OC and other cancers by exploring novel natural products with miRNA-modulating effects. However, further research is needed to clinically translate miRNA-based therapeutics employing natural compounds, especially in the areas of safety, bioavailability, and drug delivery methods. This review emphasized the implications of miRNAs in OC, the impact of natural products on miRNA regulations, and the potential for incorporating these natural substances into clinical practice for individualized and successful OC treatments.