ROS Classification of Natural Compounds in Cancer Therapy

Compound	Effect on ROS	Color Code	Dosage
Artemisinin	Increases ROS	🟥	3–5 mg/kg/day based on in vivo studies
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)	Increases ROS	🟥
Citric acid	Increases ROS	🟥
Melatonin	Increases ROS	🟥
Shikonin	Increases ROS	🟥
Honokiol	Increases ROS	🟥
Orlistat	Increases ROS	🟥
EGCg	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
IP6	Decreases ROS	🟩
Metformin	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Ivermectin	Increases ROS	🟥
Diclofenac	Increases ROS	🟥
D-limonene	Increases ROS	🟥
Caffeine	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Piperlongumine	Increases ROS	🟥
Berberine	Increases ROS	🟥
Andrographis	Increases ROS	🟥
Apigenin	Increases ROS	🟥
Curcumin	Increases ROS	🟥
Thymoquinone	Increases ROS	🟥
Baicalein	Increases ROS	🟥
Silibinin	Increases ROS	🟥
Oroxylin-A	Increases ROS	🟥
Chrysin	Increases ROS	🟥
γ-Tocotrienol	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Aspirin	Increases ROS	🟥
Vitamin D	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Lactoferrin	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Modified Citrus Pectin	Decreases ROS	🟩
Ursolic acid	Increases ROS	🟥
Luteolin	Increases ROS	🟥
Magnolol	Increases ROS	🟥
Piperine	Increases ROS	🟥
I3C	Increases ROS	🟥
Coptidis Rhizoma	Increases ROS	🟥
Butyrate	Increases ROS	🟥
Sanguinarine	Increases ROS	🟥
Allicin	Increases ROS	🟥
Ginger	Increases ROS	🟥
6-Shogaol	Increases ROS	🟥
Anthocyanin	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Bicarbonate	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Gallic acid	Increases ROS	🟥
HDACi	Increases ROS	🟥
Cannabidiol	Increases ROS	🟥
Ellagic acid	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Quercetin	Increases ROS	🟥
AHCC	Unknown	❓
Fucoidan	Increases ROS	🟥
Rosmarinic acid	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Salvia miltiorrhiza	Increases ROS	🟥
Astragalus	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Emodin	Increases ROS	🟥
Celecoxib	Increases ROS	🟥
Graviola	Increases ROS	🟥
Naringin	Increases ROS	🟥
Fisetin	Increases ROS	🟥
Chlorogenic acid	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Taurine	Decreases ROS	🟩
Grapeseed extract	Increases ROS	🟥
P. linteus	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Baicalin	Increases ROS	🟥
Berbamine	Increases ROS	🟥
Inositol	Decreases ROS	🟩
Licorice	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Boswellia	Increases ROS	🟥
Theobromine	Decreases ROS	🟩
Cinnamon	Increases ROS	🟥
Nigella Sativa	Increases ROS	🟥
Carvacrol	Increases ROS	🟥
Aloe vera	Increases ROS	🟥
Ascorbyl Palmitate	Increases ROS	🟥
IV Vitamin C	Increases ROS	🟥
Vitamin K2	Increases ROS	🟥
Galla Chinensis	Increases ROS	🟥
Magnesium	Decreases ROS	🟩
Juglone	Increases ROS	🟥
Selenium (selenite)	Increases ROS	🟥
Vitamin K3	Increases ROS	🟥
Ashwagandha	Increases ROS	🟥
CAPE	Increases ROS	🟥
Linolenic acid	Increases ROS	🟥
Ferulic acid	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Lycopene	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Capsaicin	Increases ROS	🟥
Sulforaphane	Increases ROS	🟥
Dihydrocaffeic Acid	Decreases ROS	🟩
Methylsulfonylmethane	Decreases ROS	🟩
Biochanin A	Increases ROS	🟥
Myricetin	Increases ROS	🟥
Galangal	Increases ROS	🟥
Tulsi	Increases ROS	🟥
Piper nigrum	Increases ROS	🟥
Zinc	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Oligomeric proanthocyanidins	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨
Garcinol	Increases ROS	🟥
Carnosic acid	Increases ROS	🟥
Caffeic acid	Increases ROS	🟥
Coumaric acid	Increases ROS	🟥
Mistletoe	Increases ROS	🟥
Chaga	Variable / Context-Dependent	🟨

Notes

Green = Decreases ROS (Antioxidant-like)

Red = Increases ROS (Pro-oxidant, apoptotic effect) 

Yellow = Variable/Context-Dependent/Neutral

Dual Roles: Many compounds (e.g., curcumin, EGCg, melatonin) exhibit antioxidant effects in normal cells but induce ROS in cancer cells, exploiting cancer cells' altered redox balance.

Dose/Context Dependency: Effects often depend on concentration, cell type, and microenvironment (e.g., vitamin C is a pro-oxidant at high doses).

Combination Therapies: Some compounds (e.g., DHA, ascorbate) synergize with chemo/radiation to amplify ROS-mediated cytotoxicity.

The interplay between Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and antioxidants is pivotal in cancer treatment due to the unique redox dynamics of cancer cells.