Eurycoma longifolia - An overview on the pharmacological properties for the treatment of common cancer

Sep 24, 2026

Eurycoma longifolia, known as Tongkat Ali in Malaysia, is a widely used Southeast Asian medicinal plant. Its major quassinoid, eurycomanone, shows multiple effects across diverse cancer cell lines, inhibiting cancer cell growth and promoting cell death in vitro and in vivo. Although safety and toxicity analyses have been performed, a knowledge gap remains regarding the molecular mechanisms and intervention strategies in living cancer cells. This review compiles research to date to support future investigations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

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Abstract

Introduction

Background on complementary and herbal medicine

Traditional uses of Eurycoma longifolia

Reported biological activities and mechanisms

Journal of Public Health in Africa 2023; volume 14(s1):2495 Eurycoma longifolia: an overview on the pharmacological properties for the treatment of common cancer Shankar Jothi, Thaigarajan Parumasivam, Noratiqah Mohtar Discipline of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Science Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia Abstract Eurycoma longifolia plant, the so called Tongkat Ali in Malaysia, is a well grown prominent tree in all Southeast Asia. It is well known among traditional medicine practitioners as a curative plant for many diseases and health conditions. The major quassinoid from the plant is eurycomanone, which exhibits many prominent effects on various cancer cell lines. Numerous studies have shown that eurycomanone inhibits cancerous cell growth and encourages cell death both in vitro and in vivo test. Even though analyses of safety and toxicity have been conducted, there is still a substantial knowledge barrier when it comes to providing a scientific foundation for the molecular mechanism as well as intervention strategy in the living people cancer cell. In a way to offer adequate baseline data for future investigations based on molecular Correspondence: Thaigarajan Parumasivam, Discipline of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University Science Malaysia, 11800, Penang, Malaysia. E-mail: [thaigarp@usm.my](thaigarp@usm.my) Key words: Eurycoma longifolia, Cancer, Molecular mechanism, Pharmacological studies. Acknowledgments: The authors would like to acknowledge University Science Malaysia for their continuous support to prepare this article. Contributions: SJ, Methodology, Investigation, Writing original draft; TP; Conceptualization, Supervision, and Resources; NM, Writing, editing & review. All authors have reviewed and agreed to the prepared version of the manuscript. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no potential conflict of interest. Funding: None. Availability of data and material: Data and materials are available by the authors. Informed consent: The manuscript does not contain any individual person’s data in any form. Received for publication: 23 November 2022. Revision received: 22 December 2022. Accepted for publication: 31 December 2022. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 License (CC BY-NC 4.0) . © Copyright: the Author(s), 2023 Journal of Public Health in Africa 2023; 14(s1):2495 doi:10.4081/jphia.2023.2495 mechanism and intervention, the present work seeks to review theresearches conducted to date on this herbal plant. Introduction In reference to the World Health Organization (WHO) specifically, complementary treatment is known as “the overall of the knowledge, general skills, and practice based on the theories, trust, and experiences to different cultures, whether or not, used in the preservation of general health as well as in the diagnosis, prevention, improving or remedies of physical and mental diseases”.1 According to the WHO, herbal or plant preparations, herbal ingredients, and any finished herbal products that contain plants, other plant materials, or mixtures as a bioactive compound are all considered complementary medicine.2 This refers to the extensive historical usage of herbal or plant-based medicines or their supplementary use. The usage of these medications are indeed wellestablished, well accepted for their effectiveness, and are acknowledged by national health organizations.2 According to the WHO’s estimates, 85% of people worldwide rely to some extent on herbal remedies for their primary healthcare.3 It is well-established fact that complementary medications, along with traditional and alternative medicines, are used in our healthcare system. This is a compact-documented data that the complementary medicines as well as traditional and complimentary medicines have a well-established usage in our healthcare. One of the popular and commonly availa

FAQs

What is the main bioactive compound discussed for Eurycoma longifolia?

The review highlights eurycomanone as the major quassinoid from the plant, associated with multiple effects on cancer cell lines and anticancer activity.

What evidence is described for anticancer effects?

The document reports that eurycomanone inhibits cancerous cell growth and encourages cell death in vitro and in vivo studies.

Why is the molecular mechanism still considered a challenge?

Despite safety and toxicity analyses, the review states there is a substantial knowledge barrier regarding the scientific foundation of molecular mechanisms and intervention strategy in living cancer cells.

Sep 24, 2026

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