Carnosic Acid as a Promising Anticancer Agent: Mechanisms of Action and Therapeutic Potential Across Multiple Cancer Types

Abstract

Carnosic acid (CA) is a phenolic diterpene that has multiple pharmacological actions that include neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer actions. However, its anticancer activity remains underexplored, and this study aims to fill that gap. The process involves browsing through Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and PubMed. According to our study, CA has strong anticancer properties against a variety of cancers like breast, colon, colorectal, lung, liver, leukemia, cervical, ovarian, and prostate cancer. It induces apoptosis by reducing anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression and increasing pro-apoptotic Bax and Caspase-3 levels. CA reduces cell growth and migration by suppressing key signaling pathways like Akt/mTOR, PI3K, and MAPK, while also inhibiting the cell cycle. Numerous cancer types have shown these effects in both in vitro and in vivo investigations. The results indicate that CA is a viable cancer therapeutic option that merits more research into its clinical uses and pharmacokinetics.