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Peer-reviewedCC BYCancer Medicine

Dodonaea viscosa in Breast Cancer: Phytochemistry, Anticancer Mechanisms, and Emerging Immunotherapeutic and Translational Perspectives

  • Nireshini Reddy1
  • Catherine H. Kaschula2
  • Nokwanda P. Makunga3
  • Willem Jacobus Perold4
  • Sanjeev Rambharose1
  • Anna‐Mart Engelbrecht1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Science Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
  2. 2Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Faculty of Science Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
  3. 3Dept of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
  4. 4Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Stellenbosch University Stellenbosch South Africa
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Abstract

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer‐related mortality among women worldwide, with treatment resistance, disease heterogeneity, and therapy‐associated toxicities limiting clinical outcomes. Its major clinically relevant subtypes, including oestrogen receptor‐positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐positive (HER2+), and triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), differ substantially in their molecular characteristics, therapeutic targets, and treatment responses. Consequently, there is growing interest in naturally derived compounds that modulate multiple pathways involved in tumour progression and therapeutic response. Dodonaea viscosa has attracted attention because of its diverse phytochemical composition and anticancer activity. However, the contribution of its flavonoid constituents to breast cancer biology and their relevance to emerging immunotherapeutic approaches have not been comprehensively synthesized. This review critically evaluates the anticancer activity of flavonoids identified in D. viscosa, with emphasis on quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin. These compounds exhibit antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antiproliferative, pro‐apoptotic, and anti‐angiogenic activities through modulation of targets implicated in breast cancer progression, including cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzymes, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and signalling pathways associated with tumour growth, metastasis, and immune regulation. Emerging evidence also suggests that they may influence tumour‐immune interactions and immune checkpoint pathways relevant to programmed cell death protein‐1 (PD‐1) and cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein‐4 (CTLA‐4), highlighting potential immunotherapeutic relevance. By integrating current evidence on the phytochemistry, molecular mechanisms, and immunomodulatory properties of D. viscosa‐derived flavonoids, this review provides a mechanistic and translational framework linking chemical composition to reported anticancer activity. The review identifies key gaps in mechanistic validation, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and clinical translation, and proposes future research priorities for evaluating D. viscosa‐derived flavonoids as adjunctive candidates in breast cancer immunotherapy and precision oncology.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{reddy2026dodonaea,
  title = {{Dodonaea viscosa in Breast Cancer: Phytochemistry, Anticancer Mechanisms, and Emerging Immunotherapeutic and Translational Perspectives}},
  author = {Nireshini Reddy and Catherine H. Kaschula and Nokwanda P. Makunga and Willem Jacobus Perold and Sanjeev Rambharose and Anna‐Mart Engelbrecht},
  journal = {Cancer Medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1002/cam4.72240},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.72240},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Dodonaea viscosa in Breast Cancer: Phytochemistry, Anticancer Mechanisms, and Emerging Immunotherapeutic and Translational Perspectives
AU  - Nireshini Reddy
AU  - Catherine H. Kaschula
AU  - Nokwanda P. Makunga
AU  - Willem Jacobus Perold
AU  - Sanjeev Rambharose
AU  - Anna‐Mart Engelbrecht
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/24
JO  - Cancer Medicine
DO  - 10.1002/cam4.72240
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.72240
AB  - Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer‐related mortality among women worldwide, with treatment resistance, disease heterogeneity, and therapy‐associated toxicities limiting clinical outcomes. Its major clinically relevant subtypes, including oestrogen receptor‐positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2‐positive (HER2+), and triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), differ substantially in their molecular characteristics, therapeutic targets, and treatment responses. Consequently, there is growing interest in naturally derived compounds that modulate multiple pathways involved in tumour progression and therapeutic response. Dodonaea viscosa has attracted attention because of its diverse phytochemical composition and anticancer activity. However, the contribution of its flavonoid constituents to breast cancer biology and their relevance to emerging immunotherapeutic approaches have not been comprehensively synthesized. This review critically evaluates the anticancer activity of flavonoids identified in D. viscosa, with emphasis on quercetin, kaempferol, and rutin. These compounds exhibit antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, antiproliferative, pro‐apoptotic, and anti‐angiogenic activities through modulation of targets implicated in breast cancer progression, including cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2), NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzymes, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and signalling pathways associated with tumour growth, metastasis, and immune regulation. Emerging evidence also suggests that they may influence tumour‐immune interactions and immune checkpoint pathways relevant to programmed cell death protein‐1 (PD‐1) and cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein‐4 (CTLA‐4), highlighting potential immunotherapeutic relevance. By integrating current evidence on the phytochemistry, molecular mechanisms, and immunomodulatory properties of D. viscosa‐derived flavonoids, this review provides a mechanistic and translational framework linking chemical composition to reported anticancer activity. The review identifies key gaps in mechanistic validation, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, and clinical translation, and proposes future research priorities for evaluating D. viscosa‐derived flavonoids as adjunctive candidates in breast cancer immunotherapy and precision oncology.
SN  - 2045-7634
ER  -