Brusatol is known for its ability to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs by suppressing cellular defense mechanisms. It inhibits the Nrf2 pathway, a key regulator of antioxidant responses that cancer cells often hijack to resist treatment. By blocking this pathway, brusatol makes cancer cells more vulnerable to oxidative stress and chemotherapeutic agents, particularly in resistant tumors. This property has led to its investigation as an adjuvant in cancer therapy, especially in lung, pancreatic, and liver cancers. Additionally, brusatol shows direct anti-proliferative effects on certain tumor cells, inducing apoptosis and reducing tumor growth in preclinical models. Its role in sensitizing tumors to existing treatments makes it a promising candidate for combination therapies.