Progress in anticancer chemical constituents and pharmacological research of Carpesium cernuum L. (Review)

The present study aimed to systematically review the anticancer chemical constituents, pharmacological effects, and molecular targets of Carpesium cernuum L., clarify the molecular network of its anticancer mechanisms, summarize the research achievements and limitations and provide a scientific reference for its development and utilization, the research and development of novel anticancer drugs, and clinical applications. Through literature collation and experimental data integration, the chemical constituents of C. cernuum were classified and identified, and with the aid of in vitro cell experiments, partial in vivo animal experiments and molecular biology techniques, the anticancer effects of its extracts and active constituents as well as the key signaling pathways were investigated. Notably, all included evidence was strictly stratified by research type (crude extract/fraction/isolated monomer, in vitro cell model/in vivo animal model/network pharmacology prediction) to clarify the evidence level of each anticancer claim. A total of 109 compounds were isolated and identified from C. cernuum, among which 60 sesquiterpenoids were the major components. Its active constituents exhibited promising inhibitory effects in preclinical studies against multiple cancers including prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, leukemia and breast cancer. Existing anticancer evidence was predominantly derived from in vitro cell‑based assays, with a small number of in vivo animal validations and preliminary network pharmacology predictions; high‑level clinical evidence is still vacant. By regulating signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR and Hippo, they exert multi‑dimensional anticancer effects, including cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis induction, and metastasis suppression. In vitro and partial in vivo preclinical evidence indicates that the active ingredients of C. cernuum exert potential inhibitory effects against various tumors such as prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer. By targeting key signaling pathways including PI3K/Akt/mTOR and Hippo, it achieves multi‑modal anticancer effects such as proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction, showing favorable preliminary biocompatibility in existing preclinical experiments. However, the current research has limitations including insufficient in vivo verification, uneven evidence quality, and lack of standardized dose‑effect data, which restrict clinical transformation. Collectively, C. cernuum and its bio‑active metabolites display pre‑clinical antitumor potential, yet further pharmacological validation and translational investigations are required to evaluate clinical applicability