THE USE OF HERBAL MEDICINES IN PREVENTING CANCER MUTATIONS IN ANIMAL MODELS EXPOSED TO TOXICANTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To systematically evaluate preclinical evidence on the protective effects of herbal interventions against toxicant-induced genetic and epigenetic alterations in animal models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review (2015-2025) across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Google Scholar identified six animal studies on herbal protection against toxicant-induced mutations. SYRCLE's tool showed generally robust designs. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Six rodent studies investigated exposures such as BPA, busulfan, testosterone propionate, OVA, and prenatal stress. Herbal treatments (carob, ginger, ASHMI, BSTJF, Cuscuta flavonoids) were administered via diverse routes and durations. All studies reported significant improvements (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) in genetic and epigenetic outcomes, including enhanced sperm DNA integrity, reduced inflammation, improved neurobehavior, hormonal regulation, and restored DNA methylation patterns. Transgenerational assessments consistently supported the potential of herbal therapies to mitigate inheritable mutation risks. Herbal medicines show protective effects against toxicant-induced genetic and epigenetic changes in animal models, suggesting potential preventive strategies, while long-term and mechanistic studies are needed to confirm human applicability.