The Curative and Preventative Effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Ferroptosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a leading variant of primary liver cancer, holds significant global prevalence with strong implications for morbidity, mortality, and prognosis. Prevention and treatment paradigms are perpetually evolving in response to this malignancy. Ferroptosis, an iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) dependant mode of cellular death, is catalyzed by an overabundance of lipid peroxidation, subsequently causing plasma membrane rupture. There is a unique interest in the relationship of ferroptosis with HCC development and progression, as compared to the interplay of apoptosis, autophagy, and necroptosis. Recent discoveries underscore the implications of ferroptosis in HCC evolution. Moreover, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its respective active components display anti-HCC properties, a mechanism thought to be primarily attributed to the induction of ferroptosis in HCC cells. In support of preventive and therapeutic strategies for HCC, this manuscript provides a comprehensive review of the role of ferroptosis in HCC, its regulatory network, and the cutting-edge research focused on the treatment of HCC via ferroptosis modulation using TCM.