Abstract
Introduction: Species in the genus Tecoma are traditionally valued for a wide range of medicinal properties, including antidiabetic, antispasmodic, diuretic, and vermifuge effects, and are also used to treat stomach ulcers. Over the past two decades, there has been growing interest in exploring the cytotoxic and anticancer properties of different Tecoma species and their potential applications in cancer treatment. The aim of this review is to assess the reported cytotoxic activity of different Tecoma species, identify their bioactive metabolites, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms contributing to their cytotoxic potential.
Methods: The current review utilized online databases and studies published until May 2025. It documented and summarized the recently reported cytotoxic activity of Tecoma species and the key bioactive compounds isolated from them against 12 cancer types through in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies.
Results: The review revealed that the majority of the studies predominantly focused on evaluating the cytotoxic potential of Tecoma species against breast, lung, and liver cancers. Among these, T. stans has emerged as the most promising candidate, likely due to the presence of bioactive compounds such as rutin, acteoside, paulownin, and paulownin acetate.
Conclusion: This review highlights T. stans as the most extensively investigated and cytotoxically examined species within the genus. The review also identifies key gaps in the current research on Tecoma species and their cytotoxic properties. It also provides valuable recommendations for future mechanistic and in vivo studies to enhance the understanding and therapeutic potential of Tecoma species in cancer treatment.