Unlocking the Anticancer Potential of Umbelliprenin and Auraptene: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms and Efficacy Across Multiple Malignancies.

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with conventional treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy often causing significant side effects. Natural compounds, such as Umbelliprenin (UMB) and Auraptene (AUR) from the Ferula genus, have shown promising anticancer properties with reduced toxicity. This review compares their efficacy against various cancers, focusing on their mechanisms and potency. Relevant studies were retrieved from databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science until the end of February 2025. Articles were screened by two independent researchers, excluding studies with synthetic modifications. Key findings on UMB and AUR's anticancer effects were analyzed and summarized. Both UMB and AUR exhibit significant anticancer effects across multiple cancer types, including breast, colon, gastric, lung, and others. UMB inhibits tumor growth by inducing apoptosis, arresting the cell cycle, and modulating pathways such as Wnt, NF-κB, and PI3K/Akt. It shows moderate potency (average IC50: 314 μM in breast cancer). AUR demonstrates higher potency (average IC50: 85.2 μM in breast cancer), targeting apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis via pathways such as AMPK, mTOR, and ROS modulation. AUR also enhances chemoradiotherapy sensitivity and inhibits cancer stem cell markers. UMB and AUR are promising natural anticancer agents, with AUR showing superior potency, particularly in breast cancer, due to lower IC50 values and broader mechanistic effects. Further research is needed to optimize their delivery and clinical application.