Anti-cancer mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine natural products targeting ferroptosis

Abstract Ferroptosis is a novel iron-dependent form of programmed cell death characterized by the accumulation of lipid peroxides. Its mechanism involves the disruption of iron metabolism, imbalances in the antioxidant system, and lipid peroxidation. As a leading global cause of death, cancer treatment often faces challenges such as drug resistance and adverse side effects. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), as a complementary and alternative therapy, demonstrates significant potential in tumor treatment due to its multi-targeted and multi-pathway regulatory advantages. Recent studies reveal that numerous natural products in Chinese herbal medicines can inhibit tumor growth by inducing ferroptosis. This review systematically elucidates the core molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis, encompassing iron metabolism, lipid peroxidation, and various regulatory pathways. It highlights the research progress on how natural products from TCM induce ferroptosis by regulating key targets in lung cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and liver cancer. This review aims to provide a reference for the development of anticancer drugs based on TCM. Graphical Abstract