NATURAL PRODUCTS USED IN TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT OF CANCER

NATURAL PRODUCTS USED IN TRADITIONAL MANAGEMENT OF CANCER

Rekha Tarasingh Rajput

Department of Pharmacognosy, Sharda School of Pharmacy, Sharda University, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

ABSTRACT: Cancer is the second leading cause of global death. Rapid progress in the phytochemical study of plants reveals their anticancer effects as a result plants are becoming an alternative to the current processes used. Common treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy can cause various side effects including several adverse effects on healthy cells. Therefore, alternative and effective medications are required to combat this effect. Using plant-derived products over synthetic medicines has increased the importance of medicinal plants in the field of healthcare. Many plant-derived products can potentially treat cancer by inhibiting cancer activating enzymes, stimulating DNA repair mechanisms, inducing antioxidant action, and promoting protective enzyme production. In the present review, an effort has been made to provide concise information about the medicinal plants and phytoconstituents that have shown potent activity against various forms of cancer.

Keywords: Anti-cancer, Medicinal plant, Alternative Medication, Plant derived Product, Activity

INTRODUCTION: Plants have been used as therapeutic agents that have helped humanity for thousands of years in traditional medical systems ¹. A wide range of phytoconstituents found in medicinal plants is used in the development of drugs ². Based on research dating back thousands of years, plants have the ability to treat various ailments ³. To treat illness and advance a patient's health, the Plant extract is used as an herbal medicine ⁴. One of the worst diseases, cancer, is brought on by uncontrollable cell proliferation ⁵. Cancer is still regarded as the second most terrible cause of mortality globally ^{6, 7}. Cancer is the term used to describe the abnormal proliferation of cells and tissue that results when normal cells lose their regulatory mechanisms and halt apoptosis ⁸.

Around one in five cancer deaths worldwide are caused by tobacco ⁹. Obesity, nutrition, and physical inactivity are linked to 30-35 percent of cancer deaths ¹⁰. Aflatoxin B1 causes liver cancer, eating betel nuts while chewing them promotes mouth cancer, and some specific foods are linked to certain types of cancers ¹¹. Through their ability to promote cell proliferation, certain hormones are also significant contributors to the growth of cancer ¹². The development of cancerous cells is significantly influenced by insulin-like growth factors and the proteins that bind to them ¹³. Chemotherapy is most 2 of the 21 effective ways to treat cancer however, there are a number of negative side effects ^{14, 15}.

Alternative treatment approaches with no or few side effects are needed for the prevention and treatment of cancer due to the varied negative effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy ¹⁶. Recently, scientists from all over the world have concentrated their efforts on finding novel medications derived from unadulteratedly therapeutic plants and other natural sources ¹⁷. Many natural substances that are Pharma-cologically very powerful against the growth of cancer cells have been discovered recently. According to reports, eating a diet high in phytochemicals can lower the risk of developing cancer ¹⁸. The many types of cancer have already been treated with a variety of herbs. In addition to containing a variety of bioactive substances, medicinal plants also exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activity, including anti-tumor. The anticancer characteristics of a number of therapeutic plants are employed to identify a potential molecule that can thwart the growth of cancer ¹⁹. In the 1960s, when taxol, vinblastine, camptothecin, and vincristine were being researched as potential cancer medicines derived from therapeutic plants, podophyllotoxin was also identified ²⁰. The potential involvement of medicinal herbs in the prevention of cancer cell proliferation has been demonstrated by Annona muricata, Berberis aristata, Catharanthus roseus, Linum usitatissimum, Podophyllum hexandrum, Rubia cordifoliaetc. Consequently, this review offers a summary of several natural products, plants and the main bioactive substances they contain in traditional management of cancer.

Amorphophallus campanulatus (Hindi Name: Suran): Elephant foot yam, also known as Amorphophallus campanulatus, is a perennial herb of the family Araceae. India is a country where this plant is grown. The corms have astringent, acrid, thermogenic, liver-tonic, reviving, and tonic properties. They are helpful in the treatment of tumors hemorrhoids, and inflammations ²¹. The rhizome from it is used to make food.  A rhizome is said to have antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic properties ²². It is used as an irritant externally to treat acute rheumatism ²³. The A. campanulatus tuber has also been used traditionally to treat piles, tumors in the abdomen, and liver problems. Additionally, it has been noted that the corm exhibits cytotoxic, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal properties ²⁴.

Artemisia vulgaris (Hindi Name: Davana): Tall perennial shrub Artemisia vulgaris L. is also known as “Fleabane” and grown throughout India, from steep sections of the Northern Himalayas to warm climate regions of South America. The plant contains fernenol, stigmasterol, B-sitosterol, alpha amyrin, and its acetate, as well as crystalline pentacyclic alcohol ²⁵. In Asian cooking, the plant is utilized as a culinary herb in the form of a vegetable or in soup in addition to its therapeutic benefits including its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant and hypolipidemic capabilities ²⁶. Artemisia vulgaris aqueous extract has been shown to have an anticancer effect against human breast carcinoma T47D cells, human prostate cancer PC-3 cells, human colon cancer RKO cells, Caucasian hepatocyte carcinoma (Hepa-2), human Caucasian larynx carcinoma (Hep-2) and human cancer cell lines, MCF7, A549, and HeLa ²². In addition, APME (Artemisia princeps methanol extracts) induced P53 expression of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner and played a role in the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax in both HepG2 and Hep3B cells ²⁷. The proliferation of HL-60 cells was suppressed by oil extracted from buds (AVO-b) and leaves (AVO-l) has been reported. Extracted oil, interestingly, did not cause apoptosis in noncancerous cells, but it did in a number of cancer cell lines ²⁸.

Artemisia absinthium L (Hindi Name: Afsantin): Kashmir is home to the Asteraceae family species known as Artemisia, a pungent and bitter shrub ²⁹. Research on breast cancer cells MCF-7 and three cancer cells HeLa, HT-29, and MCF7 have been reported. Many cancer cells, including MCF-7, are inhibited by quercetin, while many cancer cells, including MB-435, SKMEL-5, Du-145, MCF-7, and DLD, are inhibited by isorhamnetin. Additionally, one of the most significant artemisinins, artesunate, has anticancer effects on K569 (leukemia cancer). According to additional studies, the presence of the plant's alpha-, beta-, limonene-, and myrcene compounds may serve as inhibitors of the development of melanoma, hepatic, and breast cancer in humans. HT-29 cells (colon cancer) are inhibited by the alpha-pinene, beta-pinene and limonene present in methanol and ethanol extracts of this plant ³⁰. AR methanolic extract showed cytotoxic activity on the human colon (DLD-1), endometrium (ECC-1) cancer cells and embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells ³¹.A. absinthium leaf extract and C. paradisi peel extract had cytotoxic effects on the Huh-7 cancer cell line. Plants are cytotoxic to malignant cell lines because they contain antioxidants that stop the proliferation of cancerous cells ³².

Allium sativum L (Hindi Name: Lahsun): Allium sativum commonly known as “Garlic” and its organosulfur compounds reduce the risk of cancer in the breast, larynx, colon, skin, womb, gullet, bladder, and lung. Allicin, a significant phytoconstituent of Allium sativum, has been shown to have anticancer properties against breast and prostate cancer. This substance has anticancer properties and causes the planned death of cells. Human cancer cells are inhibited from proliferating by allicin. Another substance that inhibits leukemia cell growth and induces programmed cell death is ajoene ³⁰. It has been reported that allicin-containing garlic juice has been used to prevent the spread of cancer in mice. Additionally, synthetic allicin inhibits the growth of cancer cells ³³. Another study showed that Allium sativum bioactive extract caused a significant cytotoxicity effect on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Bioactive compounds are responsible for the plant's overall antitumoral and antimotility effects on MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells ³⁴. The strongest radical-scavenging activity was demonstrated by the two main components of aged garlic, S-allylcysteine, and S-allylmercapto-L-cysteine. Additionally, S-allylcysteine, can slow the development of chemically induced and transplantable tumors ³⁵. Garlic extracts have been shown to promote ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) dependent cell death in cancer cell lines, including human colon adenocarcinoma (Ht29), human leukemia (U937) and human colon cancer cell line (Colo 205), and mouse chronic myelocytic leukemia (32Dp210) ³⁶.

Andrographis paniculate (Hindi Name: Kalamegh): It is a member of the Acanthaceae family and is frequently referred to as "Kalmegh" and "King of Bitters" in English. It can be found all over Sri Lanka and India ³⁷. It is one of the classic herbs used in alternative medical practices and used to treat a variety of ailments and diseases, including cancer ³⁸. Andrographolide, a diterpene that is white, crystalline in nature is the primary constituent of this plant. It exhibits a cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cells, P388 lymphocytic cells, and MCF-7 breast cancer cells (HCT-116). In the mouse myeloid leukemia M1 cell line, andrographolide promotes the growth and division of human peripheral blood lymphocytes while inhibiting the growth of the colon cancer cell line (HT 29) ³⁷. In-vitro proliferation of different tumor cell lines, representing various types of cancers inhibited when treated with Andrographolide has been reported ³⁹. A. paniculata leaves extracts reported good anticancer properties against neuroblastoma (IMR-32) and human colon (HT-29) cancer cell line ⁴⁰. The methanolic extract of leaves also has significant cytotoxic action against culture cells of human epidermoid carcinoma of the nasopharynx (KB) and lymphocytic leukemia (P388). According to recent studies, andrographolide treatment significantly increased the death of several cancer cells in people by increasing the production of the TNF-α (Tumor Necrotic Factor-α) generating ligand ⁴¹. Through the activation of the p-38 MAPK signaling pathway, andrographolide can prevent cell migration in CCA (cholangiocarcinoma), cell line (HuCCA-1, KKU-100, KKU-M213, RMCCA-1), and cell line (KKU-100, KKU-M213) ⁴².

Azadirachta indica (Hindi Name: Neem): It is a member of the Meliaceae family and is also referred to as "Neem" or "Indian liliac." Leukoderma, ulcers, tumors, and hemorrhoids can all be treated with the bark of this plant ⁴³. Neem mostly contains limonoids including azadirachtin and nimbolide, which target various cell signaling pathways to cause tumor cells to undergo apoptosis. Neem extracts increase the effectiveness of several chemotherapeutic medications and make cancer cells more susceptible to immunotherapy and radiotherapy ⁴⁴. By inducing apoptosis, Azadirachta indica ethanol extract kills prostate cancer cells ³⁷. Neem leaf extracts, leaf glycoproteins and liminoids have been reported for their anticancer properties in OSCC (Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma) ⁴⁵.

Apis mellifera (Hindi Name: Sahad Mudhumakhi): The honey bee, from which honey is made, is known by its scientific name, Apis mellifera. In the Indian medical system, honey is used to burns, ulcerations, and skin wounds to speed recovery. According to studies, a protein from the Apis mellifera plant promotes the proliferation of rat hepatocytes grown in primary culture and inhibits apoptosis.

Additionally, it has demonstrated cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells and regular human lymphocytes. A significant decrease in wound cancer tumors were observed in the groups of mice that were treated with surgical wounds coated with honey pre and postoperatively ⁴⁶. Melittin (MEL) and phospholipase A2 (PLA2), the two main biopeptides of Apis mellifera are thought to be the biomolecules responsible for the anticancer activity. The A. mellifera venom had a strong cytotoxic effect, and MEL or PLA2 by themselves had a less potent effect. Surprisingly, the cytotoxic effect of MEL and PLA2 was significantly enhanced when they were combined, indicating a synergistic activity on HCT116 cells ⁴⁷. A resinous compound gathered from many plant sources known aspropolis has a variety of therapeutic benefits, including anti-cancer actions. Study on HNSCC (Head and Neck Squamous Carcinoma) cell lines reported that EAEP (Ethyl Acetate Extract of Propolis) showed cytotoxic action and promoted apoptosis by inhibiting MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in HNSCC cell lines, and has anti-invasion potential ⁴⁸.

Bidens pilosa (Hindi Name: Kumur): Folk medicine made from Bidens Pilosa, Family: Asteraceae, contains polyacetylenes, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, and other chemicals. A putative marker molecule, phenyl-1,3,5- heptatriyne, was identified. In the erythrocyte osmotic fragility assay, this marker molecule revealed the toxicity profile of healthy red blood cells together with other extracts. The anticancer activity of Bidens pilosa hexane extracts was shown to have the greatest activity ⁴⁹. In-vitro testing on Hela cells revealed that the extract from the complete Bidens pilosa plant was significantly more cytotoxic than the methanolic extract ⁴⁶. Different extracts of B. pilosa leaf exhibited potential in-vitro anticancer activity ⁵⁰.

Curcuma longa (Hindi Name: Haldi): A member of the Zingiberaceae family, turmeric is a plant with the scientific name Curcuma longa. Typically, this perennial plant needs a moist, wet habitat. Turmeric is primarily found in hot regions of Asia, including southern China, India, Pakistan, and Indonesia. The rhizome, or underground stem, is called turmeric. According to research on the cytotoxic effects of turmeric on liver cancer cells (Hep-2), the cytotoxicity caused by curcumin, a key component of turmeric, is the treatment of primary ovarian cancer. Curcumin has been demonstrated to have anticancer properties against malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, digestive, urinary, reproductive, breast, uterine, ovary, lung, melanoma, colon, and brain tumors. One study showed that curcumin promotes apoptosis and inhibits the proliferation of cancer ³⁰. Curcumin has drawn a lot of interest as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer agent over the past 20 years ⁵¹. Another study showed that the turmeric extract inhibited the cell growth in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells and was cytotoxic to lymphocytes and Dalton's lymphoma cells ⁵². It is reported that curcumin has anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and antitumor activities, particularly against cancers of the liver, skin, pancreas, prostate, ovary, lung and head and neck ⁵³.

Ferulaassa-foetida (Hindi Name: Hing): Iran is home to the Ferulaasa foetida plant. The perennial plant, Asafoetida has sturdy, thick, and fibrous stems, a resin-producing portion of this plant that is also used to make gum. Asafoetida ethanol extract has been shown to be cytotoxic to liver cancer cells (category HepG2). Additionally, chewing gum made from this plant greatly lowers the risk of developing colon cancer. It has demonstrated a mildly cytotoxic effect on cells, including ovarian carcinoma (CH1), and lung cancer (A549) and melanoma (SK-MEL-28) ³⁰. Another study reported that the seed oil of the plant has a strong anticancer effect against AGS (Adenocarcinoma gastric) cell line ⁵⁴. Asafoetida and its essential oil and ferulic acid have an inhibitory effect on the growth of breast cancer cell line ⁵⁵.

Glycyrrhiza glabra (Hindi Name: Mulethi): The wild plant, Glycyrrhiza glabra belonging to the family Glycyrrhiza is found in southern Europe, North Africa, and temperate Asia. Its stems and roots are medicinal. The root extract causes morphological abnormalities and lowers the viability of the mammary cell line 4T1. The primary component of root extract, glycyrrhizin, is a triterpene glycoside that functions as an anti-proliferative agent against tumor cells, particularly breast cancer cell lines (MCF- 7) and HEP-2, and does so by inducing apoptosis. Inducing apoptosis in HT-29 cells, Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract is effective in the treatment of colon cancer ³⁰. One study showed an ethanol extract of Glycyrrhiza glabra has induced apoptosis in HT-29 (Colorectal cancer cell line) cells and confirmed its anticancer property ⁵⁶. Licorice is one of the most commonly used herbal drugs in Traditional Chinese Medicine for the treatment of liver diseases ⁵⁷ and its ethanolic extract has been proven effective in treating malignancies like breast, colon and liver ⁵⁸.

Lagenaria siceraria Standley (Hindi Name: Kadavilauki): A kind of Cucurbit with yellow skin that is less palatable is the bottle gourd scientifically known as Lagenaria siceraria belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family. This plant significantly inhibits human lung cancer cell line A549. Additionally proven is the methanol extract's antitumor action on this plant's aerial parts. Another study established the effects of a water-soluble polysaccharide extracted from this plant on cancer of human breast cell lines (MCF7). The fruit of this plant contains cucurbitacin, beta-carotene, vitamin B group, saponins, and vitamin C. Cucurbitacin is a 4-ring terpene with cytotoxic properties ³⁰. Due to its cytotoxicity and antioxidant characteristics, L. siceraria may have strong anticancer ⁵⁹ and hydroalcoholic extract of Lagenaria siceraria caused a significant decrease in proliferation of breast cancer cells and reported anti-tumor activity ⁶⁰. n-Butanolextract from fruits powder plant shows promising anticancer activity ⁶¹. Lagenaria contains cucurbitacin, lagenin and mineral substances which have been utilized as an anti-oxidant, cardiotonic, liver tonic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antitumor, anti-HIV, and antiproliferative agent ⁶².

Medicago sativa L (Hindi Name: Lusan ghas): The scientific name for alfalfa is Medicago sativa L. This plant is typically found throughout most of the world and has been used in traditional medicine to treat a variety of diseases. The plant's phytoestrogens and potent estrogenic action are helpful in treating malignancies that are hormone-dependent. This plant alkaloid is thought to have significant therapeutic properties, including anticancer effects ³⁰. Alfalfa seed contains L-canavanine, a potentially toxic antimetabolite of L-arginine that exhibits demonstrable anti-cancer efficacy against a variety of animal-bearing carcinomas and cancer cell lines ⁶³. Three terpene derivatives and five flavonoids were discovered after the fractionation of toluene extract (To-1), the most potent extract found in leaf crude extract. The mouse leukemia P388 cell line and its doxorubicin-resistant counterpart (P388/DOX) cells demonstrated cytotoxic effects of compounds, including (-)-medicarpin, (-)-melilotocarpan E, millepurpan, tricin and Chrysoeriol ⁶⁴.

Mentha pulegium (Hindi Name: Vilayati Pudina): The Labiaceae family includes this plant with the common name European pennyroyal and the scientific name Mentha pulegium. Leukemia cells reportedly experienced cytotoxicity from the plant before flowering. Pennyroyal contains organic components such as polygon, mentone, piperitone, limonene, isomenthone, and octan-3-ol; in some research, the flavonoids' ability to suppress the growth of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis is mentioned ³⁰. The total ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. reported anticancer activity on two cell lines including Human lung carcinoma cells (A549) and human breast cancer (MCF7) ⁶⁵.

Nigella sativa L. (Hindi Name: Kalajira): Nigella sativa, sometimes known as "black caraway," "black cumin," or "black seed," is a member of the Ranunculaceae family. It is well distributed in Central Asia. Thymoquinone, a secondary metabolite of this plant, has cytotoxic properties because it causes tumor cells to die by inhibiting the signaling pathways for NF-KB, Akt activation, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase, as well as tumor angiogenesis ⁶⁶. The crude oil and thymoquinone (TQ) extracted from its seeds and oil are effective against many diseases like cancer, cardiovascular complications, diabetes, asthma, kidney disease etc ⁶⁷. One more study reported that the seed essential oil and ethyl acetate extracts were more cytotoxic against the P815 cell line than the butanol seed extract. Interestingly, the administration of the essential oil into the tumor site inhibited the incidence of liver metastasis development and improved mouse survival ⁶⁸.

Oroxylum indicum (Hindi Name: Sonapatha): The bark of the medicinal plant O. indicum, also known as the Indian trumpet tree, has the ability to heal a variety of ailments, including biliousness, fevers, intestinal worms, leucoderma, inflammation, diarrhea, dysentery, and diaphoresis. Previous studies on the cytotoxicity of O. indicum methanol and aqueous extracts in MDA-MB-435S and Hep3B cell lines have been reported. Additionally, it was claimed that O. indicum bark extracts have anti-proliferative effects on human breast cancer cells. With regards to estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer, the stem bark extract of O. indicum showed significant cytotoxicity, the capacity to induce apoptosis, and specific anti-metastatic potentials. Effective anticancer activity can be found in baicalein, a naturally occurring flavonoid component derived from O. indicum ⁶⁹. The methanol extract of Oroxylum indicum has an anti-proliferative activity and proapoptotic potential for HPV-positive cervical cancer cells ⁷⁰. The primary phenolic compounds found in this species, including baicalein, oroxylin A and chrysin, have demonstrated medicinal potential in a number of fields, including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral ⁷¹. One studywas done to determine how four flavonoids furin inhibitory flavonoid compounds baicalein, chrysin, oroxylin A, and its glycoside derived from OI affected CT-26 cell proliferation and migration (anti-tumorigenic activity). Baicalein had the strongest inhibitory effect on migration and proliferation in the examined tumor cell line, according to the data ⁷².

Phyllanthus emblica (Hindi Name: Amlika): Phyllanthus emblica belongs to family Euphorbiaceae and is known to exhibit various pharmacological properties. One study showed that Phyllanthus emblicaaqueous extract has antimetastatic potential due to reducing cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and adhesion in both doses- and time-dependent manners and its cytotoxic to human fibrosarcoma cells (HT1080) ⁷³. Strong anticancer activities are seen in the fruit extract of the Phyllanthus emblica tree, sometimes known as Indian Gooseberries ⁷⁴. P. emblica manifests its anticancer activities by inhibiting AP-1 and targets the transcription of viral oncogenes responsible for the onset and progression of cervical cancer, suggesting the potential benefit of this compound in the treatment of cervical cancers caused by HPV ⁷⁵. The fruit of Phyllanthus emblica is rich in vitamin C, flavonoids like quercetin and rutin, and polyphenols like tannins, gallic acid and ellagic acid. According to research reports, amla is expected to have strong neuroprotective, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, nephroprotective and chemoprotective properties ⁷⁶.

Panax ginseng (Hindi Name: Indian Ginseng): Ginsenoside Rp1 from P. ginseng (Araliaceae) inhibited insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor and thereby prevented human breast cancer cells from multiplying as well as disrupted the anchorage of cells colonies. Additionally, this bioactive substance caused cell cycle arrest and inhibited cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis. Additionally, it has been shown that P. ginseng's roots and rhizomes prevent the growth of the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line ⁷⁷. The main bioactive component of ginseng is ginsenosides, which have gathered attention in the treatment of fatal diseases such as cancer ⁷⁸. Another study reported that in vitro and in vivo animal studies have enhanced the antitumor effect when ginseng is used in combination with some anticancer drugs ⁷⁹. Several pre-clinical and clinical studies have reported the anticancer potential of Panax ginseng, a widely used traditional Chinese medicine ⁸⁰.

Rheum officinale (Hindi Name: Atis): In traditional Chinese and Tiberan medicine, the roots of Rheum officinal (Chinese rhubarb) have been employed. It is mostly spread to Europe, Russia, and India. According to the literature, it was utilized to treat the tumor in cases of hepatocarcinoma. R. officinale inhibits the proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma A549 and breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Gemcitabine and emodin, an anthraquinone derivative from R. officinale, is used to effectively reduce the formation of tumors in mice that had pancreatic tumor cells implanted into them. This treatment pattern increases apoptosis and destruction in mitochondria. Additionally, it decreased the phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt) level, NF-κBactivation, and Bcl-2/Baxratio enhanced caspase-9 and -3 activations, and Cytochrome C (Cyt C) release occurred in combination therapy ²². This was claimed that the water extract of Da Huang exerts potential anticancer activity through growth inhibition and apoptosis on MCF-7 and A549 cell lines ⁸¹. Genus Rheum is medicinally important as it has hepatoprotective, spasmolytic, anticholesterolaemic, antitumor, antiseptic, antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-Parkinson‟s, anti-proliferative, immuno-enhancing, antiviral and antioxidant properties ⁸². Chrysophanol, emodin, aloe-emodin, fiscion and rhein are the primary aglycones of rhubarb anthraquinones. Emodin was discovered to suppress cell growth, trigger apoptosis and stop metastases. The cytotoxic effect of emodin and aloe-emodin against oral squamous cell carcinoma and salivary gland cancer is very high. Rhein prevents malignant cells from absorbing glucose and causes them to die. As opposed to aglycons, anthraquinone glycosides have a modest cytotoxic effect ⁸³.

Swertia chirayta (Hindi Name: Chirayata): Swertia chirayita (Gentianaceae) is found and grows well in the temperate climate of the Himalayas and in the hills of Meghalaya. It has diverse therapeutic values and is extensively used as crude medicine. The plant is bitter, equally refrigerant, and thermogenic ⁸⁴. According to reports, Swertia chirata whole plant aqueous extract inhibited the growth of T47D cells, which are human breast cancer cells. Another study found that S. chirata suppressed the growth of human prostate cancer PC-3 cells and colon cancer RKO cells ²². S. chirata effects on apoptosis and cell proliferation in mice skin exposed to DMBA (Dimethyl benz(a) anthracene) were also investigated. The Amarogentin-rich crude and purified extracts both markedly reduced cell growth and triggered apoptosis. The finding points to Swertia chirata potential as a chemopreventive ⁸⁵. It showed that both the leaves and the stem's methanol extracts had anticancer activity on the HCT 116 cell lines with the leaves extract having stronger anticancer activity than the stem. Higher amounts of the stem were found to have anticancer action, however, Calu 6 cell line remained unaffected ⁸⁶.

Phytochemicals are thought to be abundant in herbal plants. Swertiamarin, Amarogentin, Swechirin, Mangiferin, Sweroside, Gentianine, Amaroswerin, Oleanolic acid, Swertanoone, and Ursolic acid are the principal chemical components ⁸⁷. The plant Swertia chirata is a useful botanical plant. It helps treat a number of illnesses, including bronchial asthma, liver disorders, fever, anemia, diarrhea and stomach disorders. Numerous biological actions, including those that are antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, hepato-protective, anthelminthic, anti-glycemic, antihepatotoxic, and hypotensive, are also demonstrated by it ⁸⁸. The primary bioactive components of Swertia are xanthones; nevertheless, this species also contains active flavonoids, iridoid glycosides, and triterpenoids as secondary metabolites. The biological activity of these secondary metabolites, such as hepatoprotective, antihepatotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antileprosy, hypoglycemic, antimalarial, antioxidant, anticholinergic, CNS depressing and mutagenicity, had significant effects ⁸⁹.

Taraxacum officinale (Hindi Name: Dudhal): In Indian, Arabian, and Native American traditional medicine, plants of the genus Taraxacum, also known as dandelions, have a history of use to cure a range of ailments, including cancer. According to one study, dandelion flower (DFE) and root (DRE) aqueous extracts had no influence on the proliferation of each cell line, while the crude extract of the dandelion leaf (DLE) reduced the growth of MCF-7/AZ breast cancer cells. Additionally, it was discovered that DRE prevented the invasion of collagen type I by MCF-7/AZ breast cancer cells while DLE prevented the invasion of LNCaP prostate cancer cells ⁹⁰. The ethyl acetate, butanol, methanol and cold-water extracts of the plant had significantly higher radical scavenging (%) and total phenolic contents. The ethyl acetate extract was potentially very toxic against human mouth epidermal carcinoma (KB) than all other extracts. Taraxacum officinale induces cytotoxicity through an increased amount of TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) and IL-1α (interleukin-1-α) secretion in Hep G2 cells ⁹¹.

Taraxacum inhibited invasion and migration as well as caused apoptosis and loss of mitochondrial integrity in neuroblastoma cell lines. Extracts of taraxacum and mistletoe showed synergistic effects. This study suggests that taraxacum may be used as an adjuvant in pediatric oncology ⁹². The potential for dandelion extracts to treat breast tumors is great. Dandelion extracts have a significant potential for use as anti-cancer drugs, and their effectiveness in methanol extract (combined with dandelion extract) was superior to that of ethanol extract ⁹³.

In the study, the antiproliferative activity of methanolic extracts of dandelion root (MEDr) on cell viability of HepG2, MCF7, HCT116, and normal Hs27 was investigated and observed that MEDr drastically decreased the growth of the HepG2 cell line, while the effect on MCF7 and HCT116 cell lines was less pronounced and no effect has been observed in Hs27 cell lines ⁹⁴.

Urtica dioica L (Hindi Name: Kandari): Nettle is a green, herbaceous perennial with branching legs (scientific name: Urtica dioica). Prostate cancer cells have shown a cell growth inhibitory impact from plant aqueous and ethanol extracts (LNCaP and as hPCs). The anticancer properties of this herb against esophageal cancer have also been mentioned in a report. Plant chemicals that include the antioxidant phenol may play a significant role in cancer prevention. Nettle root extract has been found in a study to have an antiproliferative effect on human prostate cancer cells ³⁰. The review has reported the cytotoxic, anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects of U. dioica plant on several human cancers ⁹⁵. UD inhibited cell proliferation in the Non-small cell lung cancer cells, while no toxic effects were observed in normal lung cells ⁹⁶. The cytotoxic activity of UD aqueous extract in LNCaP cells (prostate cancer) is mediated through oxidative stress and apoptosis. These findings could hold positive implications for the potential use of UD extract in prostate cancer therapy ⁹⁷. The human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and fibroblasts isolated from foreskin tissue were both markedly inhibited by U. dioica. The acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) U937 cell line's cell proliferation was dramatically reduced by the aqueous extract of U. dioica leaves. Hep2c, RD, and L2OB cells were also shown to be significantly less likely to proliferate in response to the subcritical water extract of U. dioica. 5a, 6b-dihydroxy-daucosterol, a bioactive component from U. laetevirens, demonstrated anticancer efficacy against MH7A cells by preventing proliferation and causing apoptosis ⁹⁸.

Vinca rosea (Hindi Name: Sadabahar): It is an important medicinal plant of significant concern and is a member of the genus Vinca and oleander. Human skin cancer cell line A431 was prevented from proliferating by a methanolic extract of the plant. Studying the effects of this plant's alkaloids on breast, prostate, and cervix cancer cells (MCF-7, PC3- 1C, and HeLa) revealed that these alkaloids' tubular protein links changed their structure by preventing the division of cancerous cells; these substances' antioxidant properties will stop the progression of cancer cells ³⁰.

A new clinically confirmed antitumor compound, Vincaleukoblastine (C46HssOgN4), (VLB) as the sulfate has been reported. The greatest activity was seen against the P-1534 acute lymphocytic leukemia in DBA/~ mice. Two other alkaloids, vindoline (C25H3202) and catharanthine (C21H2402N2), also obtained from Vinca rosea, were devoid of antitumor activity singly or in equimolar concentrations, but have been postulated as the biogenetic precursors of VLB and leurosine. Initial in-vitro research found that some substances could reverse the growth-inhibitory effects of VLB on human monocytic leukemia cells. Coenzyme A, aspartic acid, tryptophan, a-ketoglutaric acid, ornithine, citrulline, arginine, and glutamic acid were among these substances ⁹⁹. Vinblastine, vinorelbine, vincristine and vindesine are the four main vinca alkaloids with therapeutic effects. A brand-new synthetic vinca alkaloid called vinflunine has received European Union approval for the treatment of second-line urothelial transitional cell cancer. The second-most popular class of cancer medicines is vinca alkaloids ¹⁰⁰. Catharoseumine, 14′, 15′-didehydro-cyclovin-blastine, 17-deacetoxy-cyclovinblastine, and 17-deacetoxyvinamidine are recently isolated indole alkaloids from this plant that efficiently suppressed human cancer cell lines in-vitro ¹⁰¹. To improve the therapeutic activity against cancer treatment, some semi-synthetic substances that are comparable to vincristine and vinblastine have been created. A significant amount of in-vitro cytotoxic activity was demonstrated by anhydrovinblastine, a direct precursor of vinblastine, against human non-small cell lung cancer C4 and human cervical carcinoma, human leukemic cells, and human carcinoma A431 cells ¹⁰².

Withania somnifera Dunal (Hindi Name: Asgandh): The Indian traditional medical system of Ayurvedic medicine makes extensive use of W. somnifera Dunal (also known as Ashwagandha, WS). In Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Ashwagandha grows in large quantities.

It is grown for profit in Madhya Pradesh (a state in India). Sarcoma 180 (S-180), a transplantable mouse tumor, also demonstrated the growth inhibitory action of W. somnifera, and it was reported that Ethanol extract of W. somnifera root showed (after intradermal injection of S-180 cell in BALB/c mice) total regression of tumor after the first growth. Additionally, it was discovered that W. somnifera acts as a radio and heat sensitizer in Ehrlich ascites cancer and mouse S-180. Withaferin, a steroidal lactone of WS, had anti-tumor and radio sensitizing actions on mouse Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in-vivo. The radio sensitizer ratio of 1:5 provided by withaferin A from W. somnifera allowed for the in-vitro eradication of the V79 Chinese hamster cell1carcinoma ¹⁰³. Withaferin, a steroidal lactone of WS, also had anti-tumor and radio sensitizing actions on mouse Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in-vivo. One study tests the in vitro cytotoxicity of a 50% ethanol extract of the root, stem, and leaves of Withania somnifera against four different types of human tissues and five cancer cell lines. A-549 (lung), IMR-32, PC-3, DU-145 (prostrate), HCT-15 (colon), and (neuroblastoma). Withania somnifera leaf extracts in 50% ethanol demonstrated the highest level of cytotoxicity on the cell lines when compared to the extracts of the root, stem, and leaves¹⁰⁴. According to this research, W. somnifera has significant potential as a cancer treatment ¹⁰⁵. A key role in apoptosis induction is played by withaferin-A (WA) and withanolides, which are reported to be their most promising anticancer substances ¹⁰⁶.

Zanthoxylum nitidum: It is found in Australia and Southeast Asian nations and is a member of the Rutaceae family. Flavonoids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, and amino acids are present. Nitidine chloride, dihydronitidines, oxinitidine, skimmianine, -allocryptopine, and 6-methoxy-5,6-dihydrochelerythrine are all found in the root of the plant. It is used to cure cholera, diarrhoea, rheumatism, coughing, vomiting and stomachaches. Nitidine has anti-cancer properties and cytotoxic activity against the LLC (DNA intercalator), which is typically categorized as an inhibitor of topoisomerases I and II and causes the apoptosis of cancer cells ¹⁰⁷. The stems and twigs of Z. nitidum were used to isolate three novel alkaloids: zanthocadinanine C (1), 7-methoxy-8-demethoxynitidine (2) and zanthonitiside I (3). Compound 2 shown considerable cytotoxic effect against all tested human cancer cell lines, according to an evaluation of Compounds 1-3's cytotoxic activity against the human cancer cell lines KB, MCF-7, LNCaP, HepG-2, and LU-1 ¹⁰⁸. The isolated nitidine and liriodeninefrom the chloroform and petroleum ether extracts of the roots and leaves of Z. nitidium (Zanthoxylum nitidium) are promising potential anti-leukemia drug candidates (exhibited good inhibitory activities in the leukemia cell line HEL) ¹⁰⁹.

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Zingiber officinale (Hindi Name: Adrak): Zingiber officinale is a member of the Zingiberaceae family. Ginger or ginger is an edible medicinal plant. It is cultivated throughout India, and run wild in some places in the Western ghats ¹¹⁰. The aqueous extract of Zingiber officinale is effective on breast cancer cells (MCF-7 line and MDA-MB-231) and morphological changes observed in cancer cells that were extracted under array indicate that the cell death induction program has been destroyed ³⁰. The methanolic extract of Zingiber officinale rhizome (ZOME) inhibited the proliferation and colony formation in human cervical cancer HeLa cells and breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Additionally, it is suggested that Z. officinale has promising anticancer and antioxidant properties ¹¹¹.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Nil

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Nil 

REFERENCES:

1. Atanasov AG, Waltenberger B and Pferschy-Wenzig EM: Discovery and resupply of pharmacologically active plant-derived natural products: A review. Biotechnol Adv 2015; 33(8): 1582-1614.
2. Dias DA, Urban S and Roessner U: A historical overview of natural products in drug discovery. Metabolites 2012; 2(2): 303-336.
3. Rowlands MA, Gunnell D and Harris R: Circulating insulin-like growth factor peptides and prostate cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Cancer 2009; 124(10): 2416-2429.
4. Phua DH, Zosel A and Heard K: Dietary supplements and herbal medicine toxicities -when to anticipate them and how to manage them. Int J Emerg Med 2009; 2(2): 69-76.
5. Biesalski HK, Bueno de Mesquita B and Chesson A: European consensus statement on lung cancer: risk factors and prevention. lung cancer panel. Ca Cancer J Clinic 1998; 48(3): 167-176.
6. Sultana S, Hafiz MA and Hafiz M: Medicinal plants combating against cancer - a green anticancer approach. Asian Pac J Cancer Prevention 2014; 15(11): 4385-94.
7. Mattiuzzi C and Lippi G: Current cancer epidemiology. J Epidemiol Glob Health 2019; 9: 217.
8. Utpal D, Tanay M and Swarali D: Screening of selected ethno-medicinal plants for anti-cancer activity. Advances in Zoology and Botany 2020; 8(5): 447-452.
9. Kuper H, Boffetta P and Adami HO: Tobacco use and cancer causation: association by tumour type. J Intern Med 2002; 252(3): 206-224.
10. Kuper H, Adami HO and Boffetta P: Tobacco use, cancer causation and public health impact. J Intern Med 2002; 251(6): 455-466.
11. Kushi LH, Byers T and Doyle C: American cancer society guidelines on nutrition and physical activity for cancer prevention: reducing the risk of cancer with healthy food choices and physical activity. Cancer J Clinic 2006; 56(5): 254-281.
12. Goubran HA, Kotb RR and Stakiw J: Regulation of tumor growth and metastasis: the role of the tumor microenvironment, Cancer Growth Metastasis 2014; 7: 9-18.
13. Henderson BE, Bernstein L and Ross RK: Hormones and the Etiology of Cancer, Holland-Frei Cancer Medicine (5th ed.), Hamilton, Ontario BC Decker 2000.
14. Saini A, Kumar M and Bhatt S: Cancer causes and treatments. Int J Pharm Sci Res 2020; 11: 3121–3134.
15. Cid-Gallegos MS and Sánchez-Chino XM: Anticarcinogenic activity of phenolic compounds from sprouted legumes, Food Reviews International 2020; 1-16.
16. Rizeq B, Gupta I and Ilesanmi J: The power of phytochemicals combination in cancer chemoprevention. J Cancer 2020; 11(15): 4521-4533.
17. Harvey AL: Natural products in drug discovery. Drug Discov Today 2008; 13(19-20): 894–901.
18. Ansil PN, Pallara JW and Varun R: Cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of Amorphophallus campanulatus (Roxb.) Bl. Tuber extracts against Human colon carcinoma cell line HCT-15. Saudi J Bio Sci 2014; 21(6): 524-31.
19. Sumner J: The natural history of medicinal plants. Timber Press 2000.
20. Muhammad U, Waseem Razzaq K and Nousheen Y: Exploring the phytochemicals and anti-cancer potential of the members of fabaceae family. A Comprehensive Review Molecules 2022; 27: 3863.
21. Arya Vaidya Sala. Indian Medicinal Plants- A Compendium of 500 Species (1st Ed.), Volume-I. Orient Longman Ltd Madras 1996-1997; 132.
22. Shaukat Ali, Sundas N and Sobia Safeer: Medicinal Plants as therapeutic agents for cancer treatment, Punjab Univ. J Zool 2016; 31(2): 295-305.
23. The Wealth of India. Raw Materials. Dictionary of Indian Raw Material and Industrial Product, Vol-I-AA, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi 2005; 234.
24. Ansil PN, Wills PJ and Latha MS: Cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of Amorphophallus campanulatus tuber extracts against human hepatoma cell line. Res Pharm Sci 2014; 9(4): 269-277.
25. The Wealth of India. Raw Materials. Dictionary of Indian Raw Material and Industrial Product, Vol-I-AA, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi 2005; 439.
26. Luara S, Phui Qi Ng and Jestin C: Therapeutic potential of Artemisia vulgaris: An insight into underlying immunological mechanisms J. Environ Pathol Toxicol Oncol 2019; 38(3): 205-216.
27. Eun-Jeong Choi and Gun-Hee Kim: Antioxidant and anticancer activity of Artemisia princeps orientalis extract in HepG2 and Hep3B hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Chin J Cancer Res 2013; 25(5): 536–543.
28. Ayman MS, Ahmad A and Jack DW: In-vitro cytotoxicity of Artemisia vulgaris essential oil is mediated by a mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in HL-60 leukemic cell line. BMC Complement Altern Med 2014; 14: 226.
29. The Wealth of India. Raw Materials. Dictionary of Indian Raw Material and Industrial Product, Vol-I-AA, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi 2005; 434.
30. Wesam Kooti, Karo S and Masoud B: Effective medicinal plant in cancer treatment, part 2: review study. J Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Med 2017; 22(4): 982-995.
31. Ismail Koyuncu: Evaluation of anticancer, antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds of Artemisia absinthium Extracts. Cell Mol Bio 2018; 64(3): 25-34.
32. Muhammad A, Rida Iqbal A and Muhammad S: antioxidant activities of Artemisia absinthium and citrus paradisi extracts repress viability of aggressive liver cancer cell line. Mol Boil Rep 2021; 48(12): 7703-7710.
33. The Wealth of India. Raw Materials. Dictionary of Indian Raw Material and Industrial Product, Vol-I-AA, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi 2005; 185.
34. Isbilen O and Volkan E: Anticancer activities of Allium sativum against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Lines Mediated by Caspase-3 and Caspase-9. Cyprus J Med Sci 2020; 5(4): 305-312.
35. Thomson M and Muslim A: Garlic (Allium sativum): a review of its potential use as an anticancer agent. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2003; 3(1): 67-81.
36. Babu BC, Sunil A and Mukunda A: Anti-cancer potency of garlic (Allium sativum) extract in comparison to 5-fluorouracil - An in-vitro Oral Maxillofac Patho J 2020; 11(1): 11-15.
37. Roy A, Tushita A and Navneeta B: Anticancer agent from medicinal plants: a review, In Book, Tiezzi A., Karpiński T.M., eds. Chapter 3: New aspects in medicinal plants and pharmacognosy. J B Books, Poznań, Poland 2017; 54-71.
38. Zoya M, Rabea P and Bushra P: Anticancer potential of andrographolide from Andrographis paniculate (Burm.f.) Nees and its mechanisms of action. J Ethnopharmacol 2021; 272: 113936.
39. Sriram R, Ajaya RK and Dhanvanthri SD: Andrographolide, a potential cancer therapeutic agent isolated from Andrographis paniculate. J Exp Ther Onco 2003; 3(3): 147-58.
40. Rajesh KS, Nagalingam M and Mohemedibrahim P: Anticancer activity of Andrographis paniculate leaves extracts against neuroblastima (IMR-32) and Human colon (HT-29) cancer line. World J. Pharm. and Pharm Sci 2015; 4(6): 1667-1675.
41. Liaqat H: Andrographis paniculata: A Review of its Anti-Cancer Potential, Med. Aromat Plants 2021; 10(5): 384.
42. Phorutai P., Supeecha K and Okada S: Andrographolide inhibits cholangiocarcinoma cell migration by down-regulation of Claudin-1 via the p-38 signaling pathway, Front. Pharmacol 2019; 10: 827.
43. Arya VaidyaSala. Indian Medicinal Plants- A Compendium of 500 Species (1sted.), Volume-I., Madras: Orient Longman Ltd 1997; 227.
44. Arpita Roy and Navneeta B: Medicinal Plants in the Management of Cancer: A Review. Inter J Complementary and Alternative Med 2017; 9(2): 291-297.
45. Agrawal S, Bablani PD and Chowdhry A: A review of the anticancer activity of Azadirachta indica (Neem) in oral cancer. J Oral Biol Craniofac Res 2020; 10(2): 206–209.
46. Sharma P, Majee C: A Review on Anticancer Natural Drugs. Int J Pharm Tech Res 2015; 8(7): 131-141.
47. Carole Y, Mariam R and Dany El-Obeid: The cytotoxic effect of apis mellifera venom with a synergistic potential of its two main components-melittin and pla2 on colon cancer hct116 cell lines. Molecules 2021; 26: 2264.
48. Niyomtham N, Koontongkaew S and Yingyongnarongkul BU: Apis mellifera propolis enhances apoptosis and invasion inhibition in head and neck cancer cells. Peer J 2021; 12139.
49. Sundararajan P, Akalanka D and Sridhar N: Studies of anticancer and antipyretic activity of Bidens pilosa whole plant. Afr Health Sci 2006; 6(1): 27–30.
50. Priyanka K, Kanak M and Brijesh SS: A promising anticancer and antimalarial component from the leaves of Biden Pilosa. Planta Med 2009; 75(1): 59-61.
51. Mhd Anas T, Roja H and Xiubo Z: A review of curcumin and its derivatives as anticancer agents. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20(5): 1033.
52. Kuttan R, Bhanumathy P and Nirmala K: Potential anticancer activity of turmeric (Curcuma longa). Cancer Lett 1985; 29(2): 197-202.
53. Perrone D, Ardito F and Giannatempo G: Biological and therapeutic activities, and anticancer properties of curcumin (Review). Exp Ther Med 2015; 10(5): 1615-1623.
54. Seyyed MB and Alia S: Anticancer Effect of Essential Oil of Seed of Ferula Assa-foetida on Adenocarcinoma Gastric Cell Line. Inter J Clin Exp Physiology 2020; 7(3): 24.
55. Bhageri SM, Amir AA and Ali S: Evaluation of cytotoxicity effects of oleo gum resin and its essential oil of Ferulaassa foetida and ferulic acid on 4t1 breast cancer cells. Indian J Med Paediatr Oncol 2017; 38(2): 116-120.
56. Seyed MN, Alireza N and Maryam M: Effect of root extracts of medicinal herb Glycyrrhiza glabra on HSP90 gene expression and apoptosis in the HT-29 colon cancer cell line. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2015; 16(18): 8563-6.
57. Li X, Sun R and Liu R: Natural products in licorice for the therapy of liver diseases: Progress and future opportunities. Pharmacol Res 2019; 144: 210–226.
58. Morsi MK, El-Magoli B and Saleh NT: Study of antioxidants and anticancer activity licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra Egyptian J Nutrition 2008; 23(2): 177–203.
59. Saha P, Kundu Sen S and Bala A: Evaluation of anticancer activity of Lagenaria siceraria aerial parts. Inter J Cancer Res 2011; 7(3): 244-253.
60. Pouya G, Mohammad S and Ali B: Prevention effects of hydroalcoholic extracts bottle gourd (Lagenaria sicerariastandl.) on life cells faced with anti-cancer drug doxorubicin. International Pharmacy Acta 2018; 1(1): 130-131.
61. Mahamuni SS, Killedar SG and Harinath N: Screening of phytochemical and antiproliferation of cell growth Lagenaria siceraria fruit by phytotoxic bioassay models. Int J Pharm 2012; 2(3): 619-624.
62. Nigam P: A review on pharmacognostical and pharmacological activities, of Lagenaria siceraria Inter J Pharmacol Phytochem Ethanomed 2015; 1: 55-64.
63. Rosenthal GA and Komo PN: The natural abundance of L-Canavanine, an active anticancer agent, in alfalfa, Medicago sativa (L.). Pharm Biol 2000; 38(1): 1-6.
64. Gregory G and Abdulmagid AM: Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by alfalfa (Medicago sativa) leaf extracts in sensitive and multidrug resistant tumor cells. Nutr Cancer 2014; 66(3): 483-91.
65. Golrokh F, Narges A and Reyhaneh B: Cytotoxic and Cell progression Effects of Mentha pulegium L Extract on Selected Cancer Cell Lines. Iranian J Pharm Sci 2020; 16(2): 27-34.
66. Himani R, Garima S and Nupur J: Phytochemical importance of medicinal plants as potential sources of anticancer agents. Turkish Journal of Botany 2014; 38: 1027-1035.
67. Khan MA, Han-chun C and Dian-zheng Z: Anticancer activities of Nigella sativa (Black Cumin). Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med 2011; 8(5): 226–232.
68. Ait Mbarek L, Ait Mouse H and Elabbadi N: Anti-tumor properties of blackseed (Nigella sativa) extracts, Braz. J Med Bio Res 2007; 40: 839-847.
69. Sanghita D, Anindita D and Sukhen D: An overview on cancer-fighting phytochemicals from selected medicinal plants in bengal. Mathews J Pharm Sci 2020; 4(2): 05.
70. Wahab NH, Nur Afina MD and Yee Ying L: Proapoptotic activities of Oroxylum indicum leave extract in HeLa cells, Asian Pac. J Trop Biomed 2019; 9(8): 339-345.
71. Raghu VV, Satheesh G and Renju KV: Bioactive properties of phenolics present in Oroxylum indicum – A review. J Pharmacog Phytochem 2013; 2(3): 23-27.
72. Lalou C, Basak A and Mishra P: Inhibition of Tumor Cells Proliferation and Migration by the Flavonoid Furin Inhibitor Isolated from Oroxylum indicum. Curr Med Chem 2013; 20(4): 583-591.
73. Yahayo W, Supabphol A and Roongtawan SR: Suppression of human fibrosarcoma cell metastasis by Phyllanthus emblica extract in-vitro. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2013; 14(11): 6863-7.
74. Tiejun Z, Qiang S and Maud M: Anticancer properties of Phyllanthus emblica (Indian Gooseberry). Oxid Med Cell Longev 2015; 2015: 950890.
75. Mahata S, Pandey A and Shukla S: Anticancer Activity of Phyllanthus emblica (Indian Gooseberry): inhibition of transcription factor ap-1 and hpv gene expression in cervical cancer cells. Nutr Cancer 2013; 65: 88-97.
76. Mukhopadhyay KD: Phyllanthus emblica (Indian Gooseberry) in the prevention of cancer. American J Applied Biotechno Res 2022; 3(2): 20-26.
77. Franklyn OO, Paul CC and Chinwendu MC: Anticancer activity of Nigerian medicinal plants: a review. Future J Pharm Sci 2021; 7(70): 2-21.
78. Hong H, Delgerzul B and Seong GH: Anticancer activities of ginsenosides, the main active components of ginseng, evid. Based Complement Alternat Med 2021; 2021: 1-10.
79. Shihong C, Zhijun W and Moses SSC: Ginseng and anticancer drug combination to improve cancer chemotherapy: a critical review. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2014; 2014: 1-13.
80. Nag SA, Qin JJ and Wang W.: Ginsenosides as an anticancer agent: In-vitro and in-vivo activities, structure- activity relationships, and molecular mechanisms of actions Front. Pharmacol 2012; 3: 1-18.
81. Wing- Yan L, Shun-Wan C and De-Jian G: Water extract of Rheum officinale induces apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 and human breast cancer MCF-7 cell lines. J Ethnopharmacol 2009; 124(2): 251-6.
82. Rashid S, Zahoor AK and Singh S: Medicinal importance of Genus Rheum -A review. Int J Adv Res 2014; 2(7): 261-267.
83. Vysochina GI: Anthraquinones and biological activity of species of the Genus rheum (Polygonaceae) (Review), Health and Environmental Research 2018; 21(4): 29-4.
84. Arya Vaidya Sala: Indian Medicinal Plants- A Compendium of 500 Species (1st Ed.). Volume-V. Orient Longman Ltd., Madras 1996-1997; 212.
85. Saha P, Mandal S and Das A: Evaluation of the anticarcinogenic activity of Swertia chirata Ham, an Indian medicinal plant, on DMBA-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis model. Phytother Res 2004; 18(5): 373-8.
86. Mendes SV, Nayak K and Sheeb E: Anticancer activity of medicinal plant Swertia chirata. International J Current Res 2015; 7(09): 19860-19862.
87. Abdul A and Hifzul K: Review On Swertia chirata as traditional uses to its pyhtochemistry and phrmacological activity. J Drug Delivery Therapeutics 2018; 8(5): 73-78.
88. Nayak K., Mendes and Sarah V: Antibacterial activity of different extracts of medicinal plant Swertia chirata. Int J Curr Microbiol App Sci 2015; 4(7): 889-897.
89. Negi JS, Singh P and Rawat B: Chemical constituents and biological importance of swertia: a review. Current Res Chem 2011; 3(1): 1-15.
90. Sigstedt SC, Hooten CJ and Callewaert MC: Evaluation of aqueous extracts of Taraxacum officinale on growth and invasion of breast and prostate cancer cells. Int J Onco 2008; 32(5): 1085-90.
91. Jain S, Dwivedi J and Jain PK: Medicinal plants for treatment of cancer: a brief review. Pharmacog J 2016; 8(2): 87-90.
92. Menke K, Schwermer M and Felenda J: Taraxacum officinale extract shows antitumor effects on pediatric cancer cells and enhance mistletoe therapy. Complement Ther Med 2018; 40: 158-164.
93. Trinh N, Dang N and Tran D: Taraxacum officinale dandelion extract efficiently inhibited the breast cancer stem cell proliferation. Biomedical Res Therapy 2016; 3(7): 733-741.
94. Gauhar R, Muhammad H and Amjad I.: Effect of methanolic extract of dandelion roots on cancer cell lines and amp-activated protein kinase pathway. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8: 1-6.
95. Sabrina Esposito S and Bianco A: Therapeutic perspectives of molecules from Urtica dioica Extracts for cancer treatment. Molecules 2019; 24(15): 2753.
96. Brigida D, Vincenza C and Vittoria G: Urtica dioica inhibits proliferation and enhances cisplatin cytotoxicity in NSCLC cells via Endoplasmic Reticulum-stress mediated apoptosis. Sci Rep 2019; 9(1): 4986.
97. Arkene L, Dhandayuthapani S and Rajeswari M: Urtica dioica induces cytotoxicity in human prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells: involvement of oxidative stress, mitochondrial depolarization and apoptosis. Tropical J Pharm Res 2014; 13(5): 711-717.
98. Yasaman T, Cristina Q and Jesús Herrera-B: Urtica dioica-Derived Phytochemicals for Pharmacological and therapeutic applications. Evidence-Based Complementary Altern Med 2022; 1-30.
99. Irving JS, howrd FW and Gordon HS: Antitumor Principles Derived from Vinca rosea Linn I. Vincaleukoblastine and Leurosine. Cancer Research 1960; 02: 1016-1022.
100. Anitha Sri S: Pharmacological activity of vinca alkaloids, research & reviews. J Pharmacog Phytochem 2016; 4(3): 27-34.
101. Hong NTP, Quan VV, Michael CB and Christopher JS: Catharanthus roseus; bioactive compounds; phytochemicals; health benefits, Phytochemicals Derived from Catharanthus roseus and Their Health Benefits. Technologies 2020; 8: 80.
102. Dhyani P, Quispe C and Sharma E: Anticancer potential of alkaloids: a key emphasis to colchicine, vinblastine, vincristine, vindesine, vinorelbine and vincamine. Cancer Cell International 2022; 22: 206.
103. Sharma H, Parihar L and Pariha P: Review on cancer and anticancerous properties of some medicinal plants. J Med Plants Res 2011; 5(10): 1818-1835.
104. Yadav B, Bajaj A and Saxen AK: In-vitro anticancer activity of the root, stem and leaves of Withania somnifera against various human cancer cell lines. Indian J Pharm Sci 2010; 72(5): 659-663.
105. Tewari D, Chander V and Dhayani A: Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal: Phytochemistry, structure-activity relationship, and anticancer potential. Phytomedicine 2022; 98: 153949.
106. Neetu S, Yadav SS and Rao AS: Review on anticancerous therapeutic potential of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. J Ethanopharmacol 2021; 270: 113704.
107. Arpita R, Shruti A and Navneeta B: A review on medicinal plants against cancer. J Plant Sci Agric Res 2017; 2(1): 1-5.
108. Ti Hong VN, Thi Tuyen T and Thi Inh C: Alkaloids from Zanthoxylum nitidum and their cytotoxic activity. Natural Product Communication 2019; 1-5.
109. Deng Y, Tongtong D and Shuzhen M: Active constituents of Zanthoxylum nitidium from Yunnan Province against leukaemia cells in-vitro. BMC Chem 2021; 15(1): 44.
110. Arya Vaidya Sala. Indian Medicinal Plants- A Compendium of 500 Species (1st Ed.). Volume-V, Orient Longman Ltd, Madras 1996-1997; 431.
111. Ansari JK, Ahmad MK and Khan AR: Anticancer and Antioxidant activity of Zingiber officinale Roscoe rhizome, to evaluate the effect of ginger extract on the expression of NFκB and TNF-α in liver cancer-induced rats. Indian J Exp Biol 2016; 54(11): 767-773.
     

     ---

     How to cite this article:

     Rajput RT: Natural products used in traditional management of cancer. Int J Pharmacognosy 2024; 11(10): 502-13. doi link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.IJP.11(10).502-13.

     ---

     This Journal licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-commercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.