Therapeutic perspectives of anticancer properties of Evodia suaveolens Scheff. leaves: A systematic review

Context: Cancer represents a significant global health challenge, marked by elevated morbidity and mortality rates. Evodia suaveolens is a native medicinal plant from Papua, Indonesia. Earlier studies hinted at the possibility that E. suaveolens may have anticancer properties, likely due to its high levels of antioxidants. Aims: To evaluate anticancer potential of E. suaveolens from the bioactive compounds of E. suaveolens leaf extract. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Google Scholar databases without date restrictions. In silico, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies investigating the anticancer effects of E. suaveolens leaves were eligible for inclusion. Risk-of-bias assessments were conducted. Results presented descriptively. Results: Database screening identified 487 studies that generated six included studies. It comprised three bioinformatic studies and three in-vitro studies. In silico studies demonstrated the potential binding of E. suaveolens compounds to cancer-related targets like PI3K, EGFR, and ALK. In vitro studies showed cytotoxic effects against multiple cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 17-88 μg/mL. One study found E. suaveolens extract enhanced the antiproliferative and cell cycle arrest effects of doxorubicin on leukemia cells. No in vivo or clinical studies were identified. Most studies had a moderate to high risk of bias. Conclusions: Preliminary evidence suggests E. suaveolens leaf extract may have anticancer potential, particularly in enhancing the effects of standard chemotherapy. However, the limited number of studies and lack of in vivo and clinical data highlight the need for further research to establish efficacy and safety.