Ellagic Acid from Medicinal Plants: A Review on its Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential

Cancer and oxidative stress are closely linked disease processes that greatly affect morbidity and death worldwide. When there is too much Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and not enough natural antioxidant defences, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids become damaged by oxidative stress. This makes cancer grow and spread. Plant-based polyphenols have garnered significant attention as natural regulators of oxidative stress and cancer-related pathways. Ellagic acid, a polyphenolic dilactone originating from ellagitannins, has been recognized as a bioactive molecule with significant therapeutic potential. This study looks at ellagic acid from medicinal plants in great detail, focusing on its antioxidant and anticancer properties. A critical analysis of its chemical composition, biosynthetic origin, modes of action, therapeutic significance, and constraints concerning bioavailability and clinical applicability is provided. A thorough evaluation of published experimental and preclinical investigations was performed to evaluate the chemical, physicochemical, biosynthetic, and biological characteristics of ellagic acid. A thorough literature search was carried out to find pertinent peer-reviewed publications published upto 2025 utilizing electronic databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Ellagic acid is found in many fruits and medicinal plants, such as berries, pomegranates, almonds, and woody tissues. It can be found in free form or by ellagitannin hydrolysis. It has high antioxidant properties because it can pick up free radicals, bind to metal ions, stop lipid peroxidation, and boost the activity of antioxidant enzymes that are already in the body. It also has broad-spectrum anticancer effects by stopping angiogenesis, stopping inflammatory signalling, causing cell cycle arrest and death, and stopping tumours from spreading and invading other tissues. However, its therapeutic usefulness is restricted by its low solubility in water, low oral bioavailability, and fast metabolism. Ellagic acid is a potential natural antioxidant and chemopreventive agent. It has a lot of promise for future cancer therapy development since it changes oxidative stress and a number of cancer-related signalling pathways.