Insights into the anticancer effects of galangal and galangin: A comprehensive review

BACKGROUNDS: Cancer continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide, significantly impacting both health and the economy. Natural products have emerged as promising sources for the development of new anticancer drugs, with galangal and their active ingredient, galangin, garnering substantial interest. PURPOSE: This study summarizes recent findings on the anticancer properties of galangal and galangin, highlighting their potential to target various cancer types. METHODS: We systematically searched the literature across PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, using keywords such as "Alpinia officinarum," "Alpinia galanga", "galangal," and "galangin." This thorough approach allowed us to gather and compile a comprehensive collection of existing research on the topic. RESULTS: This article provided a thorough analysis of the distribution of galangal, the methods used to extract the active compounds of galangal, and the anticancer properties of both galangin and galangal. It is important to note that galangal and galangin primarily function by regulating the signaling pathways of PI3K/Akt, MAPK, AMPK, p53, NF-κB, and Ras/RAF/MEK/ERK, which in turn triggers apoptosis, autophagy, and ROS while preventing the migration and invasion of cancer cells. We also discussed their toxicity, bioavailability, and clinical uses. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, galangal extract and galangin have a lot of promise for treating cancer. It is anticipated that this review will further advance the use of galangal extract and galangin as potential cancer treatment medications. Moreover, the discovery and development of drugs based on galangal has enormous potential for the therapy of cancer.