Natural Combatants: How Herbal Monomers Regulate Autophagy in Ovarian Cancer

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian cancer (OC) is a lethal gynecological malignancy, with current therapies constrained by drug resistance and side effects. Autophagy plays a dual role in OC, while Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) monomers, as natural bioactive compounds, demonstrate significant potential in regulating autophagy and combating tumors. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms by which TCM monomers regulate autophagy in OC, providing a theoretical basis for TCM-based drug development and clinical applications. METHODS: Relevant literature was retrieved from databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI. The action targets and signaling pathways of TCM monomers were summarized to elucidate their mechanisms in regulating OC autophagy. RESULTS: TCM monomers (e.g., ginsenoside Rg3, curcumin) bidirectionally regulate OC autophagy through pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and MAPK; some enhance chemotherapy sensitivity by inducing excessive autophagy or inhibiting protective autophagy. DISCUSSION: TCM monotherapy offers unique advantages in the treatment of OC through precise regulation of autophagy. However, most studies are limited to in vitro experiments, and there is insufficient in vivo efficacy and clinical translational evidence. CONCLUSION: Validating the complex action network of TCM monomers through multi-omics and clinical studies, and exploring their synergistic effects with conventional chemotherapy, is crucial for advancing the development of natural anti-ovarian cancer drugs.