Traditional Chinese medicine–derived phytochemicals in prostate cancer: Mechanisms, progress, and prospects

• Traditional Chinese Medicine–derived phytochemicals exert multi-target anticancer effects in prostate cancer by modulating androgen receptor signaling, inflammation, oxidative stress, and metastatic pathways. • Curcumin, berberine, baicalin, resveratrol, and tanshinone IIA collectively regulate key oncogenic networks including AR, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, MAPK, and STAT3. • Integration of traditional Chinese medicine theory with molecular oncology reveals a system-level therapeutic framework underlying the pleiotropic actions of these compounds. • Preclinical evidence supports favorable safety profiles of TCM phytochemicals, although clinical translation is limited by poor bioavailability and insufficient pharmacokinetic and toxicity data. • Emerging strategies such as nano-delivery systems, optimized formulations, and rational combination therapies offer promising avenues to enhance the clinical applicability of TCM-derived agents in prostate cancer. Prostate cancer (PCa) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in men, with treatment resistance and adverse effects limiting the success of current therapies. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers bioactive phytochemicals with multitargeted anticancer properties. Among them, curcumin (from Curcuma longa , Jianghuang/Yujin), berberine (from Coptis chinensis , Huanglian), baicalin (from Scutellaria baicalensis , Huangqin), resveratrol (from Polygonum cuspidatum , Huzhang), and tanshinone IIA (from Salvia miltiorrhiza , Danshen) demonstrate significant therapeutic potential against PCa through modulation of key oncogenic pathways. This review synthesizes recent findings on the mechanistic and therapeutic roles of TCM-derived phytochemicals in prostate cancer, emphasizing their molecular targets, pharmacological pathways, and translational relevance. A systematic literature search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar, covering 2015–2025. A total of 1,030 records were screened, and 75 studies meeting PRISMA 2020 inclusion criteria were analyzed, focusing on pathways such as AR, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, Wnt/β-catenin, STAT3, and MAPK. All five phytochemicals inhibited tumour proliferation, induced apoptosis, and reduced metastasis. Curcumin and tanshinone IIA suppressed AR and NF-κB signaling; berberine targeted AR/AKR1C3 and EMT; baicalin inhibited caveolin-1/AKT/mTOR and TP53/CDK2 axes; and resveratrol modulated PI3K/Akt/mTOR and AR-V7 pathways, reducing vasculogenic mimicry. TCM-derived phytochemicals exhibit multi-pathway anticancer effects through apoptosis induction, oxidative stress modulation, and AR pathway suppression. Despite promising preclinical outcomes, limited bioavailability and clinical validation remain challenges. Advances in nanodelivery systems and pharmacokinetic optimization could facilitate their clinical translation for prostate cancer therapy.