Title:Natural Anticancer Agents: Their Therapeutic Potential, Challenges
and Promising Outcomes
Volume: 31
Issue: 7
Author(s): Savita Tauro, Bharat Dhokchawle, Popat Mohite, Deepali Nahar, Sahaya Nadar and Evans Coutinho*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, St. John Institute of Pharmacy and Research, Vevoor, Palghar East, Palghar 401404, Maharashtra, India
Keywords:
Cancer, phytoconstituents, cell cycle, apoptosis, flavonoids, triterpenoids.
Abstract: Cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide, is a major health
problem. Chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery are current treatments for cancer.
Most anticancer drugs have severe toxic effects and are required to be administered in cycles
to reduce toxicity and prevent resistance. Plant-based drugs have shown a potential
for treatment of cancer, and various plant secondary metabolites have shown promising
antitumor activity against several cancer cell lines, such as leukemia, colon cancer, prostate
cancer, breast cancer and lung cancer. Vincristine, etoposide, topotecan and paclitaxel,
which are of natural origin, are successfully used in clinical practice, and this has generated
interest in natural compounds as anticancer agents. Some phytoconstituents like
curcumin, piperine, allicin, quercetin and resveratrol have been extensively researched
and reviewed. In the current study, we have reviewed several plants like Athyrium hohenackerianum,
Aristolochia baetica, Boswellia serrata, Panax ginseng, Berberis vulgaris,
Tanacetum parthenium, Glycine max, Combretum fragrans, Persea americana,
Raphanus sativus, Camellia sinensis, and Nigella sativa for their source, key phytoconstituents,
and anticancer activity along with their toxicity profile. Few phytoconstituents
like boswellic acid, sulforaphane and ginsenoside showed excellent anticancer activity
compared to standard drugs and are potential clinical candidates.
