Review on anti-cancer herbal drugs

Sr. No.

Name of the Plant ^[1], ^[2], ^[6]

Common Name

1.

Allium sativum

Garlic

2.

Aloe barbadensis Miller

Aloe Vera

3.

Beta vulgaris

Beet

4.

Digitalis purpurea

Digitalis

5.

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Liquorice

6.

Hydrastis canadensis

Orangeroot, Goldenseal root

7.

Trifolium pratense

Red Clover

8.

Inonotus obliquus

Chaga Mushroom

9.

Lycopersicum esculentum

Cherry Tomato

10.

Curcuma longa

Turmeric

11.

Crocus sativus Linn

Saffron

12.

Camptotheca acuminate

Chinese Happy Tree

13.

Cardus marianus

Dudhpatra

14.

Berberis vulgaris

Barberry

15.

Vitis vinifera

Grapes

Synonyms

:

Allium sativum , alliaceous plant

Biological Source

:

The leaves and cloves having medicinal importance are obtained from A. sativum.

Family

:

Liliaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

Garlic contains diverse bioactive compounds, such as allicin, allin, diallyl sulfide, diallyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, ajoene, and S-allyl-cysteine.^[7]

Uses

:

Garlic seems to detoxify chemical carcinogens and prevent carcinogenesis and can also directly inhibit the growth of cancer cells.^[7]

Synonyms

:

Kumari , Korphad

Biological Source

:

Aloe is the fresh latex of leaves of Aloe barbadenis Miller.

Family

:

Liliaceae (Asphodelaceae)

Chemical Constituents

:

Aloe contains a mixture of crystalline glycosides known as aloin 4-5% in cape Aloe 18-25% in Curacao Aloe, Resin (16-37%), emodin and volatile oil. It also possess the anthraquinonei glycoside like barbaloin (aloe-emodin anthrone C-10 glucoside), Chrysophanic acid, B-barbaloin and Iso-barbaloin. ^[8]

Uses

:

Acne treatments, burns, or skin irritations, anthraquinone death amount human bladder cancer cells, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. ^[9]

Synonyms

:

Beta vulgaris, Common Beet

Biological Source

:

It consists of fresh roots of Beta vulgaris.

Family

:

Amaranthaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

It consists of multiple biologically active phytochemicals including betalains (e.g., betacyanins and betaxanthins), flavonoids, polyphenols, Saponins and inorganic Nitrate; is also rich source of diverse minerals such as potassium, sodium, phosphorous, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc and manganese. ^[10]

Uses

:

In recent study, betavulgarin, isolated from beetroot was found to suppress the growth, migration, colony formation, and mammospherei formation in breast cancer. ^[11]

Synonyms

:

Digitalis purpurea , Foxglove-Flower

Biological Source

:

It is obtained from the herbaceous plant of Digitalis purpurea.

Family

:

Scrophulariaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

Contains three important primary glycosides namely Purpurea glycoside A, Purpurea glycoside B, and Purpurea glycoside C, which upon hydrolysis gives rise to digitoxini, gitoxin, and gitalin, respectively. Gitoxigenin and gitaligenin, tannins, gallic, formic, acetic, succinic and benzoic acids, fatty acids and enzyme digipuridase solely responsible for hydrolysis of purpurea glycosides. ^[11]

User

:

Strong antitumor possibilities. A study performed in Spain in 2003 look at the cytotoxic activity from the leaves of the strain purpurea against human cancer cells. ^[11]

Synonyms

:

Glycyrrhiza glabra , sweet wood

Biological

:

Liquorice consists of peeled and unpeeled roots, stem of Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.

Family

:

Fabaceae [Leguminosae]

Chemical Constituents

:

Glycyrrhizine (6-8%) [Sweet Instant 50 times more than sugar]. Liquiritin and isoliquiritin are responsible for yellow colour. Glucose, sucrose, asparagin, gum, protein, fats, resins, traces of tanins. Glycyrrhizinic acid are produces glycyrrithilnic acid and glycyrrhitic on hydrolysis. ^[12]

Uses

:

Liquorice and its derivatives may protect against carcinogen-induced DNA damage and may be suppressive agents as well. ^[12]

Synonyms

:

Eyebalm, Ground Raspberry, Orangeroot , Yellowroot, Yellow puccoon, Indian Dye, Jaundice root

Biological Source

:

It obtained from perennial herb in buttercup (Hydrastis Canadensis)

Family

:

Rannuculacae

Chemical Constituents

:

The active ingredient of goldenseal include isoquinoline alkaloids, such as berberin 0.5-6 % , canadine, hydrastine 1.5-4% , berberastine 2-3%

Uses

:

Improve gut and gastrointestinal tract(GI) health, relief from sinus conditions, healing of skin ailments, protection for the liver, reduce the risk of cancer, effective against urinary tract infections (UTI).^[6]

Synonyms

:

Purple Clover, Trifolium Pratense

Biological source

:

It is a herbaceous species of flowering plant of Trifolium Pratense

Family

:

Fabaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

Calcium, Chromium ,Magnesium, Manganese, Iron, Niacin, Phosphorus, Potassium, Protein, Riboflavin, Selenium, Silica, Thiamine, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Zinc, Coumarins, Saponins, Isoflavones.

Uses

:

The University of Maryland Medical Center found that Red clover help to prevent breast cancer, other use as Bowel Regulatory, Immune System. ^[13]

Synonyms

:

Inonotus obliquus

Biological Source

:

It grows on Birch trees throughout the northern hemisphere. It often resembles a dark clump of dirt but has bright orange tissue beneath its exterior.

Family

:

Hymenochaetaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

It consists of Inotodiol, Betulin, Betulinic acid, Trametenolic acid, Melanin, Flavan, Beta-glucan, Lanosterol.

Uses

:

Inotodiol from Chaga exerted antitumor effects against cervical cancer cells. In some studies, chaga demonstrated selective apoptosis in tumor cells with no effects on healthy cells. (14)

Synonyms

:

Lycopersicum esculentum , Love Apple

Biological Source

:

Cytotoxicity effect is effect is found in leaves of Lycopersicum esculentum.

Family

:

Solanaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

It is a good source of phenolic compounds (phenolic acids and flavonoids), carotenoids (lycopene, α, and β carotene), Vitamins (ascorbic acid and vitamin A) and glycoalkaloids (Tomatine)

Uses

:

Methanolic extract of leaves of Lycopersicum esculentum shows cytotoxicity effects on cancer cells to address potential therapeutics in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line and toxicity towards Vero cells.^[14]

Synonyms

:

Curcuma longa, Haldi, Haridrai

Biological Source

:

It is a dried root obtained from the perennial plant of Curcuma longa

Family

:

Zingiberaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

Turmeric are three gold-colored alkaloid Curcuminoids: Curcumin, Dimethoxy-curcumin, and Bisdemethoxy-curcumin. 95% Curcuminoids, raw state (Turmeric is only 3-5% Curcuminoids). The Rhizome is 70% carbohydrates, 7% protein, 4% minerals, and at least 4% essential oils. It also has vitamins, other alkaloids, and is about 1% resins. (16)(17)

Uses

:

There are at least 20 molecules that are antibiotic. 14 molecules are known for cancer preventives. 12 molecules are anti-tumor. 12 molecules are anti-inflammatory.

Synonyms

:

Crocus, Spanish saffron, French saffron.

Biological Source

:

Saffron is dried stigma and styletops of Crocus sativus Linn.

Family

:

Iridaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

It contains number of carotenoids colored compounds such as ester of crocin (color glycosides), picrocrocin (colorless bitter glycoside), crocetin, gentibiose, α and β carotenes, crocin-II, lycopenea and zeaxanthin and safranal. It contains volatile oil, fixed oil and wax, etc.

Uses

:

Saffron contain a carotenoid compound called crocetin. The results of studies done, both in vivo and in vitro, show that this compound has the potential to be a strong anti-tumor agent. Saffron was found in another study to inhibit skin cancer in mice.^[15], ^[14]

Synonyms

:

Camptotheca acuminate, Camptothecin tree

Biological Source

:

Camptothecin [CPT] is an alkaloid extracted from the bark portion of the Chinese happy tree, Camptotheca acuminate.

Family

:

Nyssaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

The bark and stem contains alkaloid camptothecin. Derivatives of camptothecin including irinotecan, topotecan, rubitecan. It also contains trifolin and hyperoside

Uses

:

It is a quinolone alkaloid, used as chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of leukemia.^[16]

Synonyms

:

Milk-Thistle-Flower, Marian Thistle, Mary Thistle, Cardus marianus.

Biological Source

:

It is obtained from the plant of Silybum marianum.

Family

:

Asteraceae

Chemical Constituents

:

Approximately 4-6 % silymarin (flavonolignan complex) 20-30% fatty acids silymarin is a complex mixture of polyphenolic molecule, including 7 closely related flavonolignans ( silybin A , silybin B, isosilybin A, isosilybin B , silychristin, Isosilychristine , silydianin) and one flavonoid (taxifolin)^[17]

Uses

:

Cirrhosis, jaundice, hepatitis, gallbladder disorders, other potential health benefits including protecting heart health by lowering cholesterol level and helping people manage Type 2 diabetes. The extract of seed coating of milk thistle has anti-cancer effect.^[18]

Synonyms

:

European Barberry, Jaundice Berry, Oregon Grape

Biological Source

:

It is a fresh fruit obtained from plant of berberies vulgaries

Family

:

Berberidaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

The chief constituent of barberry bark is berberin, a yellow crystalline, bitter alkaloid, other constituents of berberies are oxyacanthine, berbamine, berberrubine, bervulcine, columbaminea, isotetrandine, jatorrhizine, palmitine, vulcracine, carbohydrates, organic acids , some vitamins, polyphenolic compounds, pectins, tannins, and mineral elements. The berries contain citric (vitamin C) and malic acids and possess astringent and antiscorbutic properties.

Uses

:

Adrenergic activity, anti-amoebic activity, anti-hypertensive activity, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-microbial activity and anti-neoplastic activity. (22)

Synonyms

:

Vitis vinifera, Angoor, Berry, Vine fruit

Biological Sources

:

It is fresh fruit obtained from the Vitis vinifera.

Family

:

Vitaceae

Chemical Constituents

:

Proanthrocyanidins (GSPs) fruits contains abundant carbohydrates (glucose) and organic acids (tartaric malic succinic, citric and oxalic acids). Seed contains 15-20% unsaturated fatty acids (phenylacrylic acid derivatives)

Uses

:

The fruits are vitaminics, tonics, anti-cancer, and hepatoprotective, promote hair growth and prevent ischemic processes. The seed oil: hypolipidermic, prevent the increase of vascular permeability. ^[19]

Sr. No.

Plant Name

Part Used

Phytochemical

Specific Cancer

1.

Allium sativum

Whole plant

Allin, Allylmercaptocysteine, Allicin

Carcinoma of human (mammary) gland, Lymphoma, Cervix Cancer. ^[7]

2.

Aloe barbadensis Miller

Whole plant

Aloesin, Emodin, Alexin B

Anti-angiogenic activity, Leukemia, stomach cancer,^[8], ^[9]

3.

Beta vulgaris

Roots

Betavulgarin

Breast cancer^[10]

4.

Digitalis purpurea

Leaves

Cardenolide glycosides

HL-60 Leukemia^[11]

5.

Glycyrrhiza glabra

Roots

Licochalcone-A, Licoagrochalcone

Prostate, breast, lung, stomach and kidney cancer^[12]

6.

Hydrastis canadensis

Roots and leaves

Berberin

Prostate and Breast cancer^[6]

7.

Trifolium pratense

Flowers

Isoflavones

Prostate and endometrial cancer^[13]

8.

Inonotus obliquus

Whole body

Inotodiol

Cervical cancer^[15]

9.

Lycopersicum esculentum

Leaves

Lycopene

Mammary cancer cell lines^[14]

10.

Curcuma longa

Rhizome, Roots

Curcumin, Ascorbic Acid

Breast, Lung, Prostate, Oesophagus, Liver, Skin Cancer, Leukemia, Glioblastoma and colon adenocarcinoma ^[20], ^[16]

11.

Crocus sativus Linn

Dry Stigmas

Crocetin

Hippocampal cell death and lung cancer^[21], ^[17]

12.

Camptotheca acuminata

Bark , Seeds

Camptothecin

Leukemia, Endocrine-resistant breast cancer ^[18])

13.

Cardus marianus

Seed

Silibinin, Silymarin

Prostate, Lung, Colon, Skin and Acute lymphoblastic leukemia^[22]

14.

Berberis vulgaris

Root, Stem, Bark

Berberin, Cannabisin

Breast, Liver, Prostate, Colon cancer^[23]

15.

Vitis vinifera

Seed, Fruit

Cyanidin, Procyanidins

Human colon cancer^[19]