ABSTRACT
Nuclear factor κB(NF-κB)is a ubiquitous regulator of the signalome and is indispensable for various biological cell functions.NF-κB consists of five transcription factors that execute both cytoplasmic and nuclear signaling processes in cells.NF-κB is the only signaling molecule that governs both pro-and anti-apoptotic,and pro-and anti-inflammatory responses.This is due to the canonical and non-canonical components of the NF-κB signaling pathway.Together,these pathways orchestrate cancer-related inflammation,hyperplasia,neoplasia,and metastasis.Non-canonical NF-κB pathways are particularly involved in the chemoresistance of cancer cells.In view of its pivotal role in cancer progression,NF-κB represents a potentially significant therapeutic target for modifying tumor cell behavior.Several phy-tochemicals are known to modulate NF-κB pathways through the stabilization of its inhibitor,IKB,by inhibiting phosphorylation and ubiquitination thereof.Several natural pharmacophores are known to inhibit the nuclear translocation of NF-κB and associated pro-inflammatory responses and cell survival pathways.In view of this and the high degree of specificity exhibited by various phytochemicals for the NF-κB component,we herein present an in-depth overview of these phytochemicals and discuss their mode of interaction with the NF-κB signaling pathways for controlling the fate of tumor cells for cancer-directed interventions.