Women's health: Harnessing the chemopreventive potential of phytochemicals for breast cancer

Breast cancer continues to be one of the most prevalent forms of cancer, morbidity and mortality in women globally, with increasing incidence rates projected to surpass 3 million new cases annually by 2040. Current treatment modalities, including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, often face limitations such as drug resistance, significant side effects, and poor outcomes for metastatic cases. This highlights the urgent need for effective prevention and treatment strategies. Phytochemicals compounds naturally present in fruits, vegetable and medicinal plants exhibit promising anticancer properties, influencing key biological processes such as cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. This review explores the chemo preventive potential of various phytochemicals, including polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and terpenoids, emphasizing their mechanisms of action and molecular targets relevant to breast cancer. The safety, low toxicity, and accessibility of these compounds position them as viable complementary or alternative options for breast chemoprevention and therapy.