Pharmaceutical Science: New Insights and Developments Vol. 11

Breast cancer, the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths among women, continues to be a major global public health issue. Curative success is constrained by the variability of the disease, resistance to drugs, and recurrence after treatment, despite significant progress in early detection and combined therapies. In the realm of integrative oncology, there has been a growing global interest in nutraceuticals, which are bioactive dietary elements that provide health advantages beyond standard nutrition. This review aims to evaluate the potential role of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) as a nutraceutical in the prevention and adjunct treatment of breast cancer. Flaxseed is an ancient crop backed by modern research. Flaxseed is rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), soluble dietary fibres, and lignans. These elements collaborate to manage apoptotic and inflammatory pathways, reduce oxidative stress, influence estrogen signalling, and regulate epigenetic genes. Collectively, these mechanisms could obstruct the progression of mammary carcinogenesis and diminish pharmacological evidence related to the treatment and prevention of breast cancer. This review aims to evaluate the potential role of flaxseed as a nutraceutical in both the prevention and adjunct therapy of breast cancer. It also highlights safety issues, nutraceutical development methods, and practical applications, presenting flaxseed as a scientifically backed functional food for sustainable health that is also readily available. Future research should focus on well-designed clinical trials to confirm the nutraceutical efficacy of flaxseed in improving quality of life and its potential in cancer prevention and management.