Most Known Citrus L. Species and Breast Cancer Relationship

Abstract

The genus Citrus L. belongs to the Rutaceae family of flowering plants and shrubs. Citrus genus has valuable edible fruits such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. Australia, Melanesia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and South Asia are the native habitats of the genus Citrus. Indigenous societies in these regions have long utilized and tamed various Citrus species. Citrus fruits and their secondary metabolites have been reported to be useful agents in numerous studies to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. This review gives an overview of Citrus species and background information on the potential anticancer properties of the compounds identified, along with the related in vitro and in vivo research. Studies from the past have revealed a variety of biological functions that Citrus compounds can regulate, such as angiogenesis, apoptosis, metastasis, cell cycle regulation, and cell proliferation. These promising data call for more investigation into the chemopreventative activity of Citrus and phytoconstituents.