Anticancer potentials of bioactive compounds in some locally available spices in Nigeria

Abstract Spices have garnered widespread appreciation and extensive research in numerous nations for their potential in treating chronic and life-threatening illnesses, including cancer. Nigeria, located in the African area, is experiencing an annual increase in cancer mortality. Multiple scientific studies substantiate the cancer-preventive attributes of spices, including cloves, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, and turmeric, which are widely available in Nigeria. This review primarily examines the bioactive chemicals found in these spices. Some of these compounds have demonstrated noteworthy anticancer and cancer preventative effects in both experimental models and human clinical studies. This study offers a comprehensive update on the anticancer potential of some locally accessible spices in Nigeria. The purpose of this review is to show studies carried out in test tubes, living organisms, and humans on these selected spices in order to determine their potential as cancer treatments and management agents, as well as the bioactive components that are responsible for these effects. Graphical Abstract