An Overview of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Emphasis on Dietary Products and Herbal Remedies

Abstract

The most common principal malignant tumor that accounts for ∼80% of cases of liver cancer across the world is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is a multifacetedillness that is caused by several risk factors and often progresses in the context of underlying cirrhosis. It is tremendously difficult and essential for the screening of novel therapeutic medications to establish HCC preclinical models that are equivalent to clinical diseases settings, i.e., representing the tumor microenvironment of HCC. In the progress of HCC, numerous molecular cascades have been supposed to play a part. Sorafenib is the only drug permitted by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of HCC. Yet because of the increasing resistance to the drug and its toxicity, clinical treatment methods are not completely adequate. Newer treatment therapy options are essential for the management of HCC in patients. Natural compounds can be afforded by the patients with improved results with less toxicity and fewer side effects, among different methods of liver cancer treatment. The treatment and management of HCC with natural drugs and their phytoconstituents are connected to several paths that can prevent the occurrence and progress of HCC in several ways. The present review summarizes the etiology of HCC, molecular pathways, newer therapeutic approaches, natural dietary products, herbal plants and phytoconstituents for HCC treatment.

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank you, Principal, Dr A. P. Pawar, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), Poona college of pharmacy for helpful article suggestions.

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Funding

This review received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

Author’s Contribution

DM was responsible for literature research and the drafting of a manuscript. SM has critically revised the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.