Natural products in the discovery of novel sonosensitizers

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT), which involves a combination of low-intensity ultrasound and chemotherapeutic agents called sonosensitizers, has been developed for its promising, distinct advantages, such as its noninvasive nature relative to traditional surgery and radiotherapy, greater accessibility to treat deeply located diseases than photodynamic therapy, and low systemic toxicity. Sonosensitizers derived from natural products play an important role in SDT, exerting potent sonodynamic activity for the treatment of various diseases including cancer, infections, and inflammation. In this review, the mechanism of SDT is systematically discussed and the recent advancements in the discovery and development of novel natural sonosensitizers for SDT are summarized. Furthermore, potential limitations and future perspectives are also presented.