Progress in the antitumor molecular mechanisms of Isorhamnetin.

Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the limitations of conventional chemotherapy—such as severe side effects and drug resistance—underscore the urgent need for novel anti-cancer agents with high efficacy and low toxicity. In this context, natural products derived from traditional medicinal sources have attracted increasing attention as promising alternatives. Isorhamnetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid found in plants like Ginkgo biloba and sea buckthorn, has emerged as a compound of particular interest due to its broad spectrum of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, vascular-protective, and notably, anti-tumor activities. Recent studies have shown that Isorhamnetin can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and suppress the progression of various cancers, such as breast, pancreatic, gastric, and liver cancers. Its anti-tumor effects are mediated through multiple mechanisms, including induction of apoptosis, inhibition of proliferation, suppression of invasion and migration, and enhancement of chemosensitivity. Moreover, Isorhamnetin exerts its therapeutic effects by modulating diverse signaling pathways. Despite its potential, a comprehensive understanding of its molecular mechanisms remains incomplete, and systematic reviews are still lacking. This review aims to summarize the current evidence on the anti-cancer mechanisms of Isorhamnetin, providing a scientific basis for its clinical application and the development of effective, low-toxicity anti-cancer therapies.