Cannabis sativa phytochemicals in cancer therapy: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential.

Authors

Rosemary Montle, Garland K More, Samkeliso Takaidza, Fanyana Mtunzi

Published in

Frontiers in pharmacology. Volume 17. Pages 1768210. Epub Jun 23, 2026.

Abstract

The therapeutic potential of Cannabis sativa has attracted growing interest in oncology. Its diverse phytochemicals, including cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes, interact with oncogenic signaling pathways and the endocannabinoid system influencing tumour progression and therapeutic responses.
This review critically evaluates the molecular mechanisms by which Cannabis sativa phytochemicals modulate cancer pathways, with emphasis on apoptosis, oxidative stress regulation, autophagy, angiogenesis, and metastasis. It also explores synergistic and additive interactions among cannabinoids and flavonoids, highlighting their translational relevance.
Cannabinoids such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabigerol (CBG) exhibit pathway-specific effects, including induction of apoptosis, modulation of oxidative stress, and inhibition of angiogenesis. Flavonoids such as cannflavin A, genistein, daidzein, hesperetin, and naringenin exhibit selective cytotoxicity across bladder, breast, melanoma, and pancreatic cancers, often sparing normal tissue. Importantly, phytochemical interactions are not uniformly synergistic; while combinations such as THC and CBD amplify apoptotic signaling, others act additively or antagonistically. Clinical formulations such as Nabiximols provide translational evidence of cannabinoid synergy, although outcomes remain context-dependent.
The disconnect between preclinical efficacy and clinical outcomes underscores critical gaps in dosing strategies, patient selection, and combination regimens. Future research should prioritize mechanistic studies, rational phytochemical combinations, and innovative drug delivery systems. Taken together, Cannabis sativa phytochemicals emerge as promising molecular entities with the potential to reshape integrative oncology, provided their therapeutic promise is matched with rigorous, evidence-based evaluation.

PMID:
42416829
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 08 Jul 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.