Unlocking the Anticancer Potential of Patchouli Leaves: Molecular Mechanisms and Translational Perspectives

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of global mortality, with its incidence continuing to rise due to population growth, aging, lifestyle factors, and environmental exposures. Despite significant advances in early diagnosis and therapeutic strategies, the clinical management of cancer is still hindered by drug resistance, limited selectivity, and treatment-related toxicity. Consequently, increasing attention has been directed toward natural products as sources of novel anticancer agents with improved efficacy and reduced adverse effects. Pogostemon cablin (patchouli), a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine, has emerged as a promising candidate owing to its diverse bioactive constituents and broad pharmacological properties. This review systematically summarizes and critically evaluates current evidence on the anticancer potential of patchouli leaves, with particular emphasis on molecular mechanisms and translational relevance. Based on available experimental and preclinical studies, patchouli and its major phytochemicals exhibit notable anticancer activity against a wide range of malignancies, including endometrial, ovarian, liver, skin, nasopharyngeal, prostate, hematological, colorectal, and lung cancers. Mechanistically, these effects are primarily associated with the modulation of apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, oxidative stress, and key oncogenic signaling pathways, as well as potential synergistic interactions with conventional chemotherapeutic agents. Overall, this review highlights the therapeutic promise of patchouli leaves as a source of anticancer agents, identifies current knowledge gaps, and outlines future research directions to facilitate their development and clinical translation.