Natural Products Modulating Mitophagy

Abstract

Cancer is recognized as the second most significant contributor to death and its occurrence continues to escalate globally, resulting in a mounting burden on global health. Chemotherapy, while being the predominant approach for cancer treatment, is constrained by drug resistance and the occurrence of significant side effects, which restrict its efficacy. Mitophagy is the degradation process that damaged mitochondria go through via autophagy and the lysosome pathway in order to preserve mitochondrial equilibrium. Recent data suggests that mitophagy plays vital roles in the development of tumors, especially in cancer treatment. Several natural substances have been discovered that influence the process of cancer cell death and exhibit anti-cancer characteristics by regulating mitophagy. This chapter discuss the uncertainties and concerns that currently encircle the investigations into the potential of natural compounds as cancer treatments based on mitophagy. Potentially, novel interventional strategies for the treatment of cancer could advance if these restrictions were eliminated.