Geraniin: A dietary ellagitannin as a modulator of signalling pathways in cancer progression

Abstract

Cancer remains a global health challenge, necessitating the exploration of novel therapeutic agents. Current treatment options are unable to overwhelm and cure the cancer burden. Hence, identifying new bioactive molecular entities with potent anticancer activity is the need of the hour. Ellagitannin Geraniin (GN) is one such evidence-based novel bioactive molecular entity (BME) available from different natural sources that can effectively combat cancer. This narrative review attempts to investigate the potential of BME-GN from 2005 to 2023 as an efficient molecular anti-cancer therapeutic against diverse cancers. We provide information on GN's pharmacological advantages, metabolite profile, and capacity to modulate multiple molecular targets involved in the hallmarks of cancer. Using the search terms “Geraniin,” “Gallic acid,” “Ellagitannin,” “pharmacological properties,” “health,” “antioxidant,” “apoptosis,” “disease management,” “anti-proliferative,” “in vitro,” “anti-inflammatory,” “anti-angiogenic,” “in vivo,” and “clinical trials,” We searched the scientific literature using Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed. We removed publications that included overlap or equivalent content and used the most recent review on each issue as our primary reference. From an initial pool of 430 articles, 52 studies met the search criteria. These studies collectively provide substantial in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence of GN's potential to combat diverse cancers. Mechanistic insights revealed its involvement in fostering apoptosis, anti-inflammatory, and modulation of key signalling pathways implicated in the hallmarks of cancer. GN's pleiotropic pharmacological and molecular therapeutic properties strongly suggest its potential as a promising anticancer agent.