See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: [Link]

net/publication/284713727

Medicinal Plants: Their Use in Anticancer Treatment

Article in International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research · November 2015

DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.6(10).4103-12

CITATIONS READS
852 14,516

2 authors, including:

Pattanathu K S M Rahman
TARA Biologics
99 PUBLICATIONS 7,985 CITATIONS

SEE PROFILE

All content following this page was uploaded by Pattanathu K S M Rahman on 27 October 2018.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Greenwell and Rahman, IJPSR, 2015; Vol. 6(10): 4103-4112. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148

IJPSR (2015), Vol. 6, Issue 10 (Review Article)

Received on 06 April, 2015; received in revised form, 27 June, 2015; accepted, 20 September, 2015; published 01 October, 2015

MEDICINAL PLANTS: THEIR USE IN ANTICANCER TREATMENT

M. Greenwell and P.K.S.M. Rahman*
Biotechnology Programme Leader, School of Science and Engineering, Teesside University,
Middlesbrough –TS13BA, Cleveland, United Kingdom.
Keywords: ABSTRACT: Globally cancer is a disease which severely effects the human
Anticancer, population. There is a constant demand for new therapies to treat and prevent
Secondary Metabolites, Polyphenols, this life-threatening disease. Scientific and research interest is drawing its
Cytotoxicity, Epigenetics attention towards naturally-derived compounds as they are considered to
Correspondence to Author: have less toxic side effects compared to current treatments such as
P.K.S.M. Rahman chemotherapy. The Plant Kingdom produces naturally occurring secondary
School of Science and Engineering, metabolites which are being investigated for their anticancer activities
Teesside University, Middlesbrough – leading to the development of new clinical drugs. With the success of these
TS13BA, Cleveland, United Kingdom. compounds that have been developed into staple drugs for cancer treatment
new technologies are emerging to develop the area further. New technologies
E-mail: [Link]@[Link] include nanoparticles for nano-medicines which aim to enhance anticancer
activities of plant-derived drugs by controlling the release of the compound
and investigating new methods for administration. This review discusses the
demand for naturally-derived compounds from medicinal plants and their
properties which make them targets for potential anticancer treatments.
INTRODUCTION: Cancer has been a constant For many years herbal medicines have been used
battle globally with a lot of development in cures and are still used in developing countries as the
and preventative therapies. The disease is primary source of medical treatment. Plants have
characterised by cells in the human body been used in medicine for their natural antiseptic
continually multiplying with the inability to be properties. Thus, research has developed into
controlled or stopped. Consequently, forming investigating the potential properties and uses of
tumours of malignant cells with the potential to be terrestrial plants extracts for the preparation of
1
metastatic . Current treatments include potential nanomaterial based drugs for diseases
chemotherapy, radiotherapy and chemically including cancer 3. Many plant species are already
derived drugs. Treatments such as chemotherapy being used to treat or prevent development of
can put patients under a lot of strain and further cancer. Multiple researchers have identified species
damage their health. Therefore, there is a focus on of plants that have demonstrated anticancer
using alternative treatments and therapies against properties with a lot of focus on those that have
cancer 2. been used in herbal medicine in developing
countries 1, 4-8.
QUICK RESPONSE CODE
DOI: Compounds which are characteristic to the plant
10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.6(10).4103-12
kingdom and are necessary for plant survival and
“housekeeping” of the organism are being
Article can be accessed online on: investigated for their ability to inhibit growth and
[Link]
initiate apoptosis of cancerous cells. This article
DOI link: [Link] aims to take an overview of current plant derived

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 4103

Greenwell and Rahman, IJPSR, 2015; Vol. 6(10): 4103-4112. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148

compounds that have anticancer therapeutic are utilising the benefits of naturally sourced
properties and their developments in the field. compounds for therapeutic purposes 13. Compounds
which have been identified and extracted from
2. Epigenetic properties: terrestrial plants for their anticancer properties
The step towards development of cancer involves include polyphenols, brassinosteroids and taxols.
alterations of epigenetic processes and their
deregulation 9. The control of hypermethylation of a. Polyphenols:
tumour-suppressor genes on CpG islands is Polyphenolic compounds include flavonoids,
deregulated in cancer cells. This can result in gene tannins, curcumin, resveratrol and gallacatechins
silencing and inactivation of tumour-suppressor and are all considered to be anticancer compounds
genes 10. Drugs which can inhibit or reverse 14
. Resveratrol can be found in foods including
epigenetic alterations have been in development peanuts and grapes and red wine. Gallacatechins
over recent years 9. are present in green tea. It is thought including
polyphenols in a person‟s diet can improve health
Chemically derived epigenetic drugs have been and reduce risk of cancers by being natural
developed and undergone trials such as 5- antioxidants 14-15.
azacytidine (azacitidine; Vidaza) and 5-aza-2‟-
deoxycytidine (decitbine; Dacogen) which are both The cytotoxicity of polyphenols on a range of
11
DNMTi and HDACi such as cancer cells has been demonstrated and their
suberoyanildehydroxamic acid (SAHA, Vorinostat, antioxidant properties determined 14, 16-17.
Zolinza) and FK228 (Romidespin, Istodax) 9.
However, it is difficult to engineer a chemically Polyphenols are thought to have apoptosis inducing
derived drug which is non-toxic to normal cells and properties showing anticancer properties which can
is specific to cytotoxicity of cancer cells. be utilized. The mechanism in which polyphenols
Therefore, development and research into naturally are thought to carry out apoptosis initiation is
derived compounds to be used for anticancer through regulating the mobilization of copper ions
treatment is becoming high in demand with a focus which are bound to chromatin inducing DNA
on those derived from plant species and their fragmentation. In the presence of Cu(II), resveratrol
natural products. was seen to be capable of DNA degradation 14.
Other properties plant polyphenols show is their
There are many forms of cancer amongst the ability to interfere with proteins which are present
human population but they share similar in cancer cells and promoting their growth. Cancer
characteristics or genotypes such as insensitivity to agents may be altered through the polyphenol
signals which inhibit cell growth making their regulating acetylation, methylation or
replication limitless. Apoptosis is evaded and never phosphorylation by direct bonding. For example,
induced in cancer cells and angiogenesis is curcumin treated cancer cells in various cells lines
sustained within the tumour tissue 12 allowing have shown suppression of the Tumour Necrosis
survival of cancer cells. Plant derived compounds Factor (TNF) expression through interaction with
have demonstrated properties to inhibit cancer cell various stimuli 18.
activity such as inhibiting proliferation of cancer
cells and inducing apoptotic cell death. b. Flavonoids:
Flavonoids are from the polyphenolic compounds
3. Plant compounds with anticancer properties: and constitute a large family of plant secondary
Medicinal plants have been used for thousands of metabolites with 10,000 known structures 19. They
years in folk medicines in Asian and African are physiologically active agents in plants and
populations and many plants are consumed for their becoming of high interest scientifically for their
health benefits in developed nations. According to health benefits 20-21.
the World Health Organisation (WHO) some
nations still reply of plant-based treatment as their Various plants have been investigated for their
main source of medicine and developing nations flavonoid content and how these compounds affect

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 4104

Greenwell and Rahman, IJPSR, 2015; Vol. 6(10): 4103-4112. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148

cancer cells, such as fern species and plants used in used for regulation of plant senescence 24. They are
traditional Chinese medicines like the litchi leaf 19, essential for plant growth and development. BRs
22
. There is a high content of flavonoid compounds are another naturally occurring compounds which
such as anthocyanins, flavones, flavonols, have demonstrated therapeutic significance in the
chalcones and many more which can be found in cause against cancer.
just one structure of the plant like its seed 22. Coa et
al., 2013, identified and looked at the anticancer Two natural BRs have been used in investigations
effects of flavonoids on human lung cancer cells with cancerous cells to demonstrate the anticancer
(A456 cell line) from the fern species properties that these compounds possess. 28-
Dryopteriserythrosora. They found flavonoids to homocastasterone (28-homoCS) and 24-
demonstrate cytotoxicity on cancer cells and to epibrassinolide (24-epiBL) have demonstrated
have high free radical scavenging activity 19. anticancer effects on various cancer cell lines 25-27
Purified flavonoids have also shown anticancer and proven to be effective at micromolar
activities against other human cancers including; concentrations. A characteristic of cancer cells is
hepatoma (Hep-G2), cervical carcinoma (Hela) and that they do not naturally undergo apoptosis and
breast cancer (MCF-7) 22. The flavonoids extracted proliferate indefinitely. BRs can induce responses
from Erythrinasuberosastem bark (4‟-Methoxy necessary for growth inhibition and induce
licoflavanone (MLF) and Alpinumisoflavone apoptosis by interacting with the cell cycle 25. BRs
(AIF)) were shown to have cytotoxic effects in HL- have been used in investigations to treat a range of
60 cells (human leukaemia) 12. MLF and AIF cancer cell lines which include; T-lymphoblastic
induced apoptosis through intrinsic and extrinsic leukaemia CEM, multiple myeloma RPMI 8226,
signalling pathways. The mitochondrial membrane cervical carcinoma HeLa, lung carcinoma A-549
potential is significantly reduced due to the and osteosarcoma HOS cell lines25. Also included
induction of apoptotic proteins. With mitochondria are cell lines in breast cancer and prostate cancer.
damage to cells the cancer cells cannot survive 12. Estrogen receptor (ER), epidermal growth factor
Other studies have looked at flavonoid extracts receptor (EGFR) and human EGFR-2 (HER-2) are
from fern species and found that even in low some of the critical proteins which are targeted in
concentrations they still demonstrate high treatment of breast cancer as they are abundant in
percentage of anticancer activity 23. breast cancer cells such as MCF-7, MDA-MB-468,
T47D and MDA-MB-231 26, 28.
As previously mentioned polyphenols can inhibit or
alter the regulation of proteins and other agents In prostate cancer cells (LNCaP and DU-145 cell
which may be contributing to the survival of cancer lines) the androgen receptor (AR) is a critical
cells. Signal Transducer and Activator of protein involved in its development and shares a
Transcription (STAT) proteins are anti-apoptotic similar structure to ER 27. BRs will interact or bind
and contribute to cancer cell growth. MLF and AIF to receptors of these proteins and inhibit the growth
inhibit members of this family of proteins by of both hormone sensitive and hormone insensitive
preventing their phosphorylation needed for the cancer cells 26-27. Also, BRs can induce cell cycle
cancer cells survival 12. Also, these flavonoids blockage. Treatment of breast cancer cell lines with
inhibit the expression of NF-ĸB which is needed 28-homoCS and 24-epiBL showed reduction in
for cancer cell survival and angiogenesis and cyclin proteins which are involved in G1 cell cycle
proliferation. phase. At this phase in the cell cycle cells will
either under repair or enter apoptosis, treatment
c. Brassinosteroids: with BRs induces apoptosis at this stage which
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are naturally occurring cancer cells would not be able to do naturally
compounds found in plants which play roles in without treatment 27. In prostate cancer cell lines,
hormone signalling to regulate growth and LNCaP and DU-145, the balance of apoptotic
differentiation of cells, elongation of stem and root proteins which promote cell survival and those
cells and other roles such as resistance and which induce programmed cell death changes with
tolerance against disease and stress. Also, BRs are BRs treatment. The levels of the Bax pro-apoptotic

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 4105

Greenwell and Rahman, IJPSR, 2015; Vol. 6(10): 4103-4112. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148

protein increase after BRs treatment and anti- are drugs which will inhibit the dynamics of
apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2 are reduced 27. microtubules by binding to β-tubulin. Taxanes such
Along with their anticancer properties BRs as paclitaxel and its analogue docetaxel are also
generate different responses in normal and cancer microtubule disruptors. These compounds inhibit
cells 25. A key specification in anticancer treatment cell cycle phase transitions from metaphase to
is for the agent not to be cytotoxic to normal cells anaphase causing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
and be cell specific to cancer cells; this is where Replication of cancer cells is reduced by paclitaxel
agents of BRs origin are of interest for therapeutic as it stabilizes or polymerizes microtubules in the
properties. cells33-35. Paclitaxel was one of the first drugs to
have a huge impact on cancer treatment and
d. Anticancer plant-derived drugs: vincristine and vinblastine were two of the initial
Plant-derived drugs are desired for anticancer drugs to be isolated 35.
treatment as they are natural and readily available.
They can be readily administered orally as part of Combinations of drugs derived from vinca
patient‟s dietary intake 29-30. Also, being naturally alkaloids, Taxusditerpenes, Podiphyllumlignans
derived compounds from plants they are generally and Camptotheca alkaloids in plant extracts may
more tolerated and non-toxic to normal human cells enhance their anticancer effects and improve their
31
. However, there are exceptions such as efficacy as therapeutic agents 35-36. Extracts from
cyanogenetic glycosides, lectins, saponins, lignans, Urticamembranaceae, Artemesia monosperma and
lectins and some taxanes 31-32. If plant-derived Origanumdayi Post in Solowely et al., 2014 were
drugs can demonstrate selectivity in research, are investigated to test their effects on a wide range of
non-toxic to normal cell lines and show cancer cell lines from lung, breast, colon and
cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines, these drugs can be prostate cancers. The investigation showed the
lead into clinical trials for further therapeutic plant extracts with a combination of anticancer
development. Plant-derived drugs can fall under compounds were able to have killing activity which
four classes of drugs with the following activities; was specific to cancer cells and showed no effect
methytransferase inhibitors, DNA damage on normal human lymphocytes and fibroblasts.
preventive drugs or antioxidants, histone This makes plant extracts more desirable as
deacetylases (HDAC) inhibitors and mitotic therapeutic agents than those that are chemically
disruptors 30. The compounds being discussed are derived which cause toxic complications in cancer
represented in Table 1 with their origins, anticancer treatment. The plant extracts induced apoptosis
activity and their clinical trial development. which was demonstrated by an increased sub-G1
phase population of cells with lower DNA content
Compounds including sulforaphane, and condensation of chromatin. Also an increase in
isothiocyanates, isoflavones and pomiferin are caspase 3 activation was seen after extract
considered to be HDAC inhibitors. They inhibit the treatment which is a key stage in apoptotic cell
activity of carcinogenic proteins. For example, death 36.
sulforaphane has shown to inhibit important targets
in breast cancer proliferation. Decreased expression Discovery of anticancer cancer agents which show
of ER, EGFR and HER-2 resulted from HDAC specificity towards cancer cells and can induce cell
inhibition by sulforaphane treatment in breast death and inhibit growth of tumours may be
cancer cell lines 28. In cancer cells, epigenetically- considered for clinical trials (Table 1).
silenced genes which are functional for chromatin
acetylation are reactivated by HDAC inhibitors and e. Enhancing drug administration:
cancer cells are then able to enter programmed cell With advancements and discoveries in naturally
death (apoptosis). Plant-derived compounds which derived drugs new technologies are emerging for
show inhibition of HDAC can enhance the application and dosage of these anticancer
chemotherapeutic sensitivity in human cancrs 28, 30. compounds. Administration of new drugs needs to
Derivatives of vinca alkaloids, vincristine, be effective for the compound to be a successful
vinblastine, vinorelbine, vindesine and vinflunine alternative to current treatments such as

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 4106

Greenwell and Rahman, IJPSR, 2015; Vol. 6(10): 4103-4112. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148

chemotherapy. Through the field of taken orally is most cost effective and more
nanotechnology the use of nanoparticles (NPs), as a comfortable for the patient. A formulation of
delivery system for drugs to reach target sites, is paclitaxel-loaded nanocochleates which can been
developing. Some compounds that have administered orally showed controlled drug release
demonstrated anticancer activities may be limited and effective activities against lung, ovarian and
in their clinical development due to the need for breast cancer cell lines 41. Also, noscapine was
high dosages 37. Bromleain, isolated from limited in clinical trials due to insoluble properties
Aanascomosus was shown to be more effective as until derived analogues were developed 43. Jyoti et
an anticancer agent in formulation with NPs than al., 2015 investigated the noscapine analogue 9-
free bromelain 37. bromo-noscapine in formulation with
nanostrucutured lipid particles. Here they showed
This research demonstrated a safe and enhanced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in lung cancer
biocompatible method using bromelain NPs to cell lines with increased uptake of drug into
sustain release of the drug at the target site whilst cancerous cells of the formulated noscapine
also protecting the drug. These bromelain loaded analogue compared to the free drug.
polyllactic-co-glycolic acid NPs (BL-PLCG NPs)
showed to trigger apoptosis of benign cells more so 5. Medicinal plant demands:
than free bromelain by regulating the expression of With successful clinical trials drugs being
pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins in 2-stage developed from plant origins are popular for
skin turmorigenesis in mice. Other NPs synthesized clinical development. Their non-toxic effects on
have also been investigated such as; gold NPs of normal cells and their cytotoxic effects on cancer
Antigonoleptopu spowdered extract and copper cells put them in high demand. A lot of the species
oxide NPs of Acalyphaindica 3, 38. These investigated are selected from developing countries
formulations of plant extract and NPs showed in Africa and Asia where herbal therapies are
cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. practiced and medicinal plants are relied upon for
Paclitaxel has been through clinical trials and early primary treatment 1, 4-8.
treatment settings. Research and development is
aiming to use NPs to control release of the drug and The World Health Organisation estimated in 2007
enhance target specificity 39 by using magnetic that the plant-derived drugs trade was worth
mesoporous silica NPs with a gelatine membrane; US$100 billion. The trade is expected to reach
Paclitaxel can be controlled externally using a US$5 trillion by 2050 13.
magnetic field.
There is a huge demand for medicinal plants in
This has shown to be successful in increasing the developing countries putting high pressure on the
drug‟s ability to inhibit growth of tumours and plant populations. Many medicinal plants are
reduce unwanted effects of other tissue areas as the cultivated from wild populations for informal trade
drug‟s distribution is controlled 39. Success has but this cultivation is not regulated 44. With rapid
also been seen with the drug quercetin using population growth, deforestation and increasing
superparamagnetic magnetite NPs against breast urbanisation the protection of medicinal plants is
cancer (MCF-7) cell lines 40. This research becoming an issue in need of addressing 45. With
demonstrated enhanced activities of the NPs in constant increase in demand, high-value medicinal
cytotoxicity of MCF-7 cells compared to free or plants are threatened by extinction if over
pure quercetin. NPs in their use for anticancer exploitation continues. Conservation of these plants
treatment are of growing interest and show promise is vital. When wild medicinal plants are harvested
as a natural alternative to current treatments. only specific parts of the plant are used in treatment
such as the bark of a tree or bulbs and tubers from
Alternatively, research investigating application bulbous and tuberous plants. Extracting only
using nanocochleates and nanolipososmes segments of a plant may damage and reduce its
demonstrates achievement in anticancer activities survival 44. To increase the sustainability of
through oral or inhalable intake 41-42. Paclitaxel medicinal plants in developing countries, utilization

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 4107

Greenwell and Rahman, IJPSR, 2015; Vol. 6(10): 4103-4112. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148

of all plant parts including the stem, leaf, root and was estimated there were over 1.5 million new
bark should be included in the treatment. Other cases of cancer 50. Cancer Research UK said in
methods of conservation include germplasm 2012 14.1 million adults were diagnosed with
conservation; storing viable seeds, cancer and 8.2 million people were killed by cancer
cryopreservation; preserving biological material in globally 51. Therefore, the demand for a cure and
liquid nitrogen and tissue culture; propagates plants the prevention of cancer is extremely high.
in sterile conditions and can produce mature plants
clones quickly of rare species 45-46. These Chemically-derived drugs have been developed and
preservation methods will also allow for industrial other cancer treatments pre-exist 11. However,
utilization in developed countries 45. current methods such as chemotherapy have their
limitations due to their toxic effects on non-
In developed areas such as Europe and parts of targeted tissues furthering human health problems
1
India and China some medicinal plants are being . Therefore, there is a demand for alternative
cultivated on a large scale to keep up with treatments with naturally-derived anticancer agents
increasing demands for alternative natural drugs 44. with plants being the desired source.
Cultivating sustainable species may release
pressure on other wild species and prevent loss of The secondary metabolites in the plant kingdom
plant biodiversity. However, mass cultivation could such as polyphenols, flavonoids and
lead to strain on land available for other resources brassinosteroids have been studied for their
in agriculture. potential use as anticancer agents. Collectively they
have been shown to possess anticancer activities
Attention is being drawn towards foods with which include; antioxidant activity; inhibition of
medicinal properties, such foods include cancer cell growth; induction of apoptosis; target
cruciferous vegetables and fruit berries 21, 29. Raw specificity; cancer cell cytotoxicity 18-19, 25, 40. Plant-
by-products from industries could be utilized to derived drugs have been developed from positive
extract anticancer agents from sources possess results in research and have progressed into clinical
these agents. For example, one of the biggest crops trials (Table 1). Drugs derived from vinca alkaloids
grown globally are grapes (Vitrisvinifera) and were some of the first compounds to be utilized and
„grape seed extract‟ is often added in ingredients of are developing in clinical Phase III trials along with
food products due to its human health benefits. In Pacitaxel and other anticancer agents (Table 1).
the winery industry grape stems are a raw by- These compounds are readily available from the
product of wine making. This high organic load can natural environment and are relatively non-toxic to
be acidic to the environment surrounding the healthy human cells. Also there are currently
winery. However, its high polyphenolic content developments using new technologies such as
may make it advantageous for anticancer drug nanoparticles to be used in administration of
development and make a profitable scheme to solve anticancer compounds and therapies. Their
environmental issues. Grape stem extracts have development could be applied to control sustained
demonstrated to have antioxidant properties, drug release and help in aims to create drugs that
prevent DNA damage from reactive oxygen species are tissue specific reducing severe side effects of
and shown anti-carcinogenic potential against an treatments.
array of cancer cell lines from cervical cancer,
thyroid cancer and many more 47-48. Increasing demand for plant-derived drugs is
putting pressure on high-value medicinal plants and
CONCLUSION: Cancer is becoming a high risking their biodiversity 44. Increasing populations,
profile disease in developed and developing urbanization and deforestation are contributing to
worlds. In 2007 the WHO published that in 2005, species endangerment in developing countries. To
7.6 million people died from cancer related aid conservation of these species germplasm
diseases with the majority of these people living in conservation, cryopreservation, tissue cultures and
low-income countries 49. In the United States plant part substitution strategies need to be in place
46
cancer is the cause of 1 in 4 deaths and in 2010 it . Mass cultivation of medicinal plant species and

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 4108

Greenwell and Rahman, IJPSR, 2015; Vol. 6(10): 4103-4112. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148

utilizing raw by-products in industries may also cells lines 3, making them in high demand.
help with conservation 32, 48. Plant-derived Exploitation of these agents needs to be managed to
anticancer agents are effective inhibitors of cancer keep up with demands and be sustainable.
TABLE 1: PLANT-DERIVED DRUGS IN RESEARCH AND CLINICAL TRIALS
Anticancer agent Isolated or derived from: Compound activity Research and References
clinical development
Sulphoraphane Isotiocynanate in cruciferous Induces phase 2 Clinical trials with 28-29, 52
vegetables Brassica detoxification enzymes; oral administration of
inhibits tumor growth in cruciferous vegetable
breast cancers; antiproliferate preparation with
effects sulphoraphane
Paclitaxel (Taxol) Taxane; Taxusbrevifolia L Microtubule disruptor; block In clinical use; Phase 34, 39, 41,
mitosis; induce apoptosis; I-III clinical trials; 53-54
microtubules are polymerized early treatment
and stabilized; disruption of settings; non-small
spindle formation; inhibition lung cancer, breast
of translational machinery cancer, ovarian
cancer, Kaposi
sarcoma. Research
and development in
alternative drug
administration using
nanoparticles,
naocochealtes and
nanoliposomes.
Epipodophyllotoxin PodophyllumpeltatumL.; Pro-apoptotic effects; cell Lymphomas and 31, 36, 53
Podophyllotoxin isomer cycle interference testicular cancer trials
Vincristine Lymphomas, 30, 34, 36,
sarcomas and 53, 55
leukaemias; in clinical
use; combination
Catharanthusroseus G. Don; Anti-mitotic; microtubule trials
Vinblastine Vinca alkaloids inhibitor; bind to β-tubulin; Testicular cancer, 30, 34, 36,
microtubule stabilizers or Hodgkins disease and 55
destabilizers; pro-apoptotic lymphoma; in clinical
properties and induce cell use; combination
cycle arrest; anti-tumour trials
Vinorelbine activity Non-small cell lung 30, 34, 36
cancer; single and
combination trials;
Phase I-III
Vindesine Clinical trials for 30, 36
acute lymphocytic
leukaemia
Vinflunine Clinical trials for 30-31, 34
activity against solid
tumors; Phase III
clinical trials
Pomiferin Isoflavonoidisolatated from Pro-apoptotic effects; DNA Growth inhibition in 30, 56
Maclurapomifera; fragmentation; inhibits six human cancer cell
DereeisMalaccensis oxidative damage of DNA; lines: ACHN
antioxidant activity; inhibits (kidney), NCI-H23
histone deacetylases; (lung), PC-3
cytotoxicity of cancer cells (prostate), MDA-MB-
231 (breast), LOX-
IMVI (Melanoma),
HCT-15 (colon)

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 4109

Greenwell and Rahman, IJPSR, 2015; Vol. 6(10): 4103-4112. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148

Epigallacotechin-3- Catechin; green tea Antioxidant; decrease DNA Clinical trials in 30, 57-58
gallate damage from oxidative stress; prostate cancer
anti-proliferative effects; treatment ; Phase I
inhibition of specific kinases; clinical study for oral
inhibit carcinogenesis dose administration
induced chemically or by UV
Combretastatin A-4 Water-soluble analogue of Anti-angiogenic; vasuclar Early trials; mimics 31,54
phosphate combretastatin; shut-down of tumors; tumor developed; clinical
Combretumcaffrum necrosis and preclinical trials
Roscovitine Derived from olomucine; Inhibition of cyclin Phase II clinical trials 31, 54
RaphanussativusL. dependent kinases; reduction in Europe
(Brassicaceae) of cell cycle progression
Flavopiridol Synthetic flavonoid derivative; Anti-inflammatory; Phase I and Phase II 31, 54, 59
rohitukine based structure; immunamodulatory activity; clinical trials in solid
DysoxylumbinectariferumHook.f. tyrosine kinase activyt; tumors, lymphomas,
(Meliaceae) growth inhibitory effects leukaemias
Noscapine Opium poppy (Papaver Antiproliferative properties; Phase I and Phase II
somniferum) microtubule interfering; clinical trials; limited 42-43, 60
inhibits tumour growth and progression due to its
progression limited solubility;
research into
alternative
administration of drug
using analogues and
nanotechnology.

7. Fouche, G., Cragg, G.M., Pillay, P., Kolesnikova, N.,

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: The author would like Maharaj, V.J. and Senabe, J. (2008) „In vitro anticancer
screening of South African plants‟, Journal of
to thank the support given by the School of Science Ethnopharmacology, 119, pp. 455-461.
and Engineering at Teesside University and the 8. Kamatou, G.P.P., Van Zyl, R.L., Davids, H., Van Heerden,
information given during MSc Biotechnology F.R., Lourens, A.C.U. and Viljoen, A.M. (2008)
„Antimalarial and anticancer activities of selected South
course. African Salvia species and isolated compounds from S.
radula‟, South African Journal of Botany, 74, pp. 238-243.
REFERENCES: 9. Schnekenburger, M., Dicato, M. and Diederich, M. (2014)
„Plant-derived epigenetic modulators for cancer treatment
1. Ochwang‟I, D.O., Kimwele, C.N., Oduma, J.A.,
and prevention‟, Biotechnology Advances, 32, pp.1123-
Gathumbi, P.K., Mbaria, J.M. and Kiama, S.G. (2014)
1132.
„Medicinal plants used in treatment and management of
10. Esteller, M. (2007) „Epigenetic gene silencing in cancer:
cancer in Kakamega County Kenya‟, Journal of
the DNA hypermethylome‟, Human Molecular Genetics,
Ethnopharmacology, 151, pp. 1040-1055.
16 (1), pp. 50-59.
2. Cancer Research UK (2014) What is cancer? Available at:
11. Seidel, C., Florean, C., Schnekenburger, M., Dicato, M.
[Link]
and Diederich, M. (2012) „Chromatin-modifying agents in
cancer (Accessed 23 January 2015).
anti-cancer therapy‟, Biochimie, 94, pp. 2264-2279.
3. Sivaraj, R., Rahman, P.K.S.M., Rajiv P, Vanathi, P.,
12. Kumar, S., Pathania, A.S., Saxena, A.K., Vishwakarma,
Venckatesh R. 2014. Biosynthesis and characterization of
R.A., Ali, A. and Bhunshan, S. (2013) „The anticancer
Acalyphaindica mediated copper oxide nanoparticles and
potential of flavonoids isolated from the stem bark of
evaluation of its antimicrobial and anticancer activity.
Erythrinasuberosathrough induction of apoptosis and
SpectrochimicaActa Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular
inhibition of STAT signalling pathway in human
Spectroscopy, 129: 255-258
leukaemia HL-60 cells‟, Chemico-Biological Interactions,
4. Freiburghaus, F. Kaminsky, R., Nkunya, M.H.H. and
205, pp. 128-137.
Brun, R. (1996) „Evaluation of African plants for their in
13. Rajeswara Rao, B.R, Singh, K., Sastry, K.P., Singh, C.P.,
vitro trypanocidal activity‟, Journal of
Kothari, S.K., Rajput, D.K. and Bhattacharya, A.K. (2007)
Ethnopharmacology, 55, pp.1-11.
„Cultivation Technology for Economicaly Important
5. Costa-Lotufo, L.V., Khan, M.T.H., Ather, A., Wilke, D.V.,
Medicinal Plants‟, in Reddy, K.J., Bahadur, B., Bhadraiah,
Jimenez, P.C., Pessoa, C., Amaral de Moraes, M.E. and
B. and Rao, M.L.N. (ed.) Advances in Medicinal Plants.
Odorico de Moraes, M. (2005) „Studies of the anticancer
Hyderabad: University Press, pp. 112-122.
potential of plants used in Bangladeshi folk medicine‟,
14. Azmi, A.S., Bhat, S.H., Hanif, S. and Hadi, S.M. (2006)
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 99, 21-30.
„Plant polyphenols mobilize endogenous copper in human
6. Cai, Y.Z., Sun, M., Xing, J., Luo, Q. and Corke, H. (2006)
peripheral lymphocytes leading to oxidative DNA
„Structure-radical scavenging activity relationships of
breakage: A putative mechanism for anticancer
phenolic compounds from traditional Chinese medicinal
Properties‟, FEBS Letters, 580, pp. 533-538.
plants‟, Life Sciences, 78, pp. 2872-2888.

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 4110

Greenwell and Rahman, IJPSR, 2015; Vol. 6(10): 4103-4112. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148

15. Apostolou, A., Stagos, D., Galitsiou, E., Spyrou, A., Derived Anticancer Drugs‟, International Journal of
Haroutounian, S., Portesis, N., Trizoglou, I., Hayes, A.W., Biomedical Science, 5 (1), pp. 1-11.
Tsatsakis, A.M. and Kouretas, D. (2013) „Assessment of 31. Unnati, S., Ripal, S., Sanjeev, A. and Niyati, A. (2013)
polyphenolic content, antioxidant activity, protection „Novel anticancer agents from plant sources‟, Chinese
against ROS-induced DNA damage and anticancer activity Journal of Natural Medicines, 11 (1), pp. 0016-0023.
of Viti vinifera stem extracts‟, Food and Chemical 32. Phillipson, J.D. (1999) „Medicinal Plants‟, Journal of
Toxicology, 61, pp. 60-68. Biological Education (Society of Biology), 31 (2), pp. 109.
16. Siriwantanmetanon, N., Fiebich, BL., Efferth, T., Prieto, 33. Amos, L.A. and Löwe, J. (1999) „How Taxol® stabilises
J.M and Heinrich, M. (2010) „Traditionally used Thai microtubule structure‟, Chemistry & Biology, 6 (3), pp.
medicinal plants: In vitro anti-inflammatory, anticancer 65-69.
and antioxidant activities‟, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 34. Jordan, M.A. and Wilson, L. (2004) „Microtubules as a
130, pp.197-207. target for anticancer drugs‟, Nature Reviews: Cancer, 4,
17. Heo, B.G., Park, Y.J., Park, Y.S., Bae, J.H., Cho, J.Y., pp. 253-266.
Park, K., Jastrzebski, Z. and Gorinstein, S. (2014), 35. Khazir, J., Mir, B.A., Pilcher, L. and Riley, D.L. (2014)
Industrial Crops and Products, 56, pp. 9-16. „Role of plants in anticancer drug discovery‟,
18. Gupta, S.C., Tyagi, A.K., Deshmukh-Taskar, P., Hinojosa, Phytochemistry Letters, 7, pp. 173-181.
M., Prasad, S. and Aggarwal, B.B. (2014) 36. Solowey, E., Lichtenstein, M., Sallo, S., Paavilainen, H.,
„Downregulation of tumor necrosis factor and other Solowet, E. and Lorberboum-Galski, H. (2014)
proinflammatory biomarkers by polyphenols‟, Archives of „Evaluating Medicinal Plants for Anticancer Activity‟, The
Biochemistry and Biophysics, 559, pp. 91-99. Scientific World Journal, 2014, pp. 1-12.
19. Cao, J., Xia, X., Chen, X., Xiao, J. and Wang, Q. (2013) 37. Bhatnagar, P., Pant A.B., Shukla, Y., Chaudhari, B.,
„Characterization of flavonoids from Kumar, P. and Gupta, K.C. (2015) „Bromelain
Dryopteriserythrosora and evaluation of their antioxidant, nanoparticles protect against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]
anticancer and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities‟, anthracene induced skin carcinogenesis in mouse model‟,
Food and Chemical Toxicology, 51, pp. 242-250. European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics,
20. Agati, G., Azzarello, E., Pollastri, S. and Tattini, M. 91, pp. 35-46.
(2012) „Flavonoids as antioxidants in plants: Location and 38. Balasubramani, G., Ramkumar, R., Krishnaveni, N.,
functional significance‟, Plant Science, 196, pp. 67-76. Pazhanimuthu, A., Natarajan, T., Sowmiya, R. and
21. Huntely, A.L. (2009) „The health benefits of berry Perumal P. (2015) „Structural characterization, antioxidant
flavonoids for menopausal women: Cardiovascular and anticancer properties of gold nanoparticles synthesized
disease, cancer and cognition‟, Maturitas, 63, pp. 297-301. from leaf extract (decoction) of Antigononleptopus Hook.
22. Wen, L., Wu, D., Jiang, Y., Prasad, K.N., Lin, S., Jiang, &Arn.), Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and
G., He, J., Zhao, M., Luo, W. and Yang, B. (2014) Biology, 30, pp. 83-89.
„Identification of flavonoids in litchi (Litchi chinensis 39. Che, E., Gao, Y., Wan, L., zhang, Y., Han, N., Bai, J., Li,
Soon.) leaf and evaluation of anticancer activities‟, Journal J., Sha, Z. and Wang, S. (2015) „Paclitaxel/gelatin coated
of Functional Foods, 6, pp. 555-563. magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles: Preparation and
23. Xia, X., Cao, J., Zheng, Y., Wang, Q. and Xiao, J. (2014) antitumor efficacy in vivo‟, Microporous and Mesoporous
„Flavonoid concentrations and bioactivity of flavonoid Materials, 204, pp. 226-234.
extracts from 19 species of ferns from China‟, Industrial 40. Kumar, S.R., Priyatharshni, S., Babu, V.N., Mangalaraj,
Crops and Products, 58, pp. 91-98. D., Viswanathan, C., Kannan, S. and Ponpandian, N.
24. Bishop, G.J and Koncz, C. (2002) „Brassionsteroids and (2014) „Quercetin conjugated superparamagnetic
Plant Steroid Hormone signaling‟, The Plant Cell, magnetite nanoparticles for in-vitro analysis of breast
supplement 2002, pp. 97-110. cnacer cell line for chemotherapy applications‟, Journal of
25. Malíková, J., Swaczynová, J., Kolář, Z. and Strnad, M. Colloid and Interface Science, 436, pp. 234-242.
(2008) „Anticancer and antiproliferative activity of natural 41. Pawar, A.P., Vinugala, D. and Bothiraja, C. (2014)
brasinosteroids‟, Phtyochemistry, 69, pp. 418-426. „Nanocochleates derived from nanoliposomes for
26. Steigerová J., Oklešt‟ková, J., Levková, L., Kolář, Z. and paclitaxel oral use: Preparation, characterization, in vivo
Strnad, M. (2010) „Brassinosteroids cause cell cycle arrest anticancer testing, bioavailability and biodistribution study
and apoptosis of human breast cancer cells‟, Chemico- in rats‟, Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy, in press.
Biological Interactions, 188, pp. 487-496. 42. Jyoti, K., Kaur, K., Pandey, R.S., Jain, U.K., Chandra, R.
27. Steigerová J., Rárová, L., Oklešt‟ková, J., Křížová, K., and Madan, J. (2015) „Inhalable nanostructured lipid
Levková, M., Šváchová, M., Kolář, Z. and Strnad, M. particles of 9-bromo-noscapine, a tubulin-binding
(2012) „Mechanisms of natural brassinosteroid-induced cytotoxic agent: In vitro and in vivo studies‟, Journal of
apoptosis of prostate cancer cells‟, Food and Chemical Colloid and Interface Science, 445, pp. 219-230.
Toxicology, 50, pp. 4068-4076. 43. Henary, M., Narayana, L., Ahad, S., Gundala, S.R.,
28. Pledgie-Tracy, A., Sobolewski, M.D. and Davidson, N.E. Mukkavilli, R., sharma, V., Owens, E.A., Yadav, Y.,
(2007) „Sulforaphane induces cell type-specific apoptosis Nagaraju, M., Hamelberg, D., Tandon, V., Panda, D. and
in human breast cancer cell lines‟, Molecular Cancer Aneja, R. (2014) „Novel third-generation water-soluble
Therapeutics, 6 (3), pp. 1013-1021. noscapine analogs as superior microtubule-interfering
29. Cornblatt, B.S., Ye, L., Dinkova-Kostova, A.T., Erb, M., agents with enhanced antiproliferative activity‟,
Fahey, J.W., Singh, K., Chen, M.A., Stierer, T., Garrett- Biochemical Pharmacology, 92, pp. 192-205.
Mayer, E., Argani, P., Davidson, N.E., Talalay, P., 44. Zschocke, S., Rabe, T., Taylor, J.L.S, Jäger, A.K. and van
Kensler, T.W. and Visvanathan, K. (2007) „Preclinical and Staden, J. (2000) „Plant part substitution – a way to
clinical evaluation of sulforaphane for chemoprevention in conserve endangered medicinal plants?‟, Journal of
the breast‟, Carcinogenesis, 28 (7), pp. 1485-1490. Ethnopharmacology, 71, pp. 281-292.
30. Amin, A., Gali-Muhtasib, H., Ocker, M. and Schneider- 45. Parveen, S., Jan, U. and Kamili, A. (2013) „Importance of
Stock, R. (2009) „Overview of Major Classes of Plant- Himalayan medicinal plants and their conservation

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 4111

Greenwell and Rahman, IJPSR, 2015; Vol. 6(10): 4103-4112. E-ISSN: 0975-8232; P-ISSN: 2320-5148

strategies‟, Australian Journal of Herbal Medicine, 25 (2), Mechanisms‟, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 276
pp. 63-67. (34), pp. 32008-32015.
46. Kasagana, V.N. and Karumuri, S.S. (2011) „Conservation 53. Pezzuto, J.M. (1997) „Plant-Derived Anticancer Agents‟,
of Medicinal Plants (Past, Present & Future Trends)‟, Biochemical Pharmacology, 53, pp. 121-133.
Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, 3 (8), 54. Cragg, G.M. and Newman, D.J. (2005) „Plants as a source
pp. 1378-1386. of anti-cancer agents‟, Journal of Enthnopharmacology,
47. Stagos, D., Amoutzias, G.D., Matakos, A., Spyrou, A., 100, pp. 72-79.
Tsatsakis, A.M. and Kouretas, D. (2012) 55. Risinger, A.L., Giles, F.J. and Mooberry, S.L. (2009)
„Chemoprevention of liver cancer by plant polyphenols‟, „Microtubule dynamics as a target in oncology‟, Cancer
Food and Chemical Toxicology, 50, pp.2155-2170. Treatment Reviews, 35, pp. 255-261.
48. Sahpazidou, D., Geromichalos, G.D., Stagos, D., 56. Son, I.H., Chung, I.M., Lee, S.I., Yang, H.D. and Moon,
Apostolou, A., Haroutouian, S.A., Tsarsakis, A.M., H.I. (2007) „Pomiferin, histone deacetylase inhibitor
Tzanakakis, N.G., Hayes, A.W. and Kouretas, D. (2014) isolated from the fruits of Maclurapomifera‟, Bioorganic &
„Anticarcinogenic activity of polyphenolic extracts from Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 17, pp. 4753-4755.
grape stems against breast, colon, renal and thyroid cancer 57. Hakim, I.A. Harris, R.B., Brown, S., Chow, H.H.S.,
cells‟, Toxicology Letters, 230, 218-224. Wiseman, S., Agarwal, S. and Talbot, W. (2003) „Effect of
49. World Health Organisation (2007) The World Health Increased Tea Consumption on Oxidative DNA Damage
Organisation‟s Fight Against Cancer: Strategies that among Smokers: A Randomized Controlled Study‟, The
prevent, cure and care. Geneva: WHO Press Journal of Nutrition, 133(10), pp. 3303S-3309S.
50. Jemal. A., Siegel, R., Xu, J. and Ward, E. (2010) „Cancer 58. Raza, H. and John, A. (2005) „Green tea polyphenol
Statistics, 2010‟, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 60, epigallocatechin-3-gallate differentially modulates
pp. 277-300. oxidative stress in PC12 cell compartments‟, Toxicology
51. Cancer Research UK (2014) World cancer statistics. and Applied Pharmacology, 207, pp.212-220.
Available at: [Link] 59. Newcomb, E.W., (2004) „Flavopiridol: pleiotropic
info/cancerstats/world/ (Accessed 23 January 2015). biological effects enhance its anti-cancer actvity‟, Anti-
52. Heiss, E., Herhaus, C., Klimo, K., Bartsch, H. and Cancer Drugs, 15 (5), pp. 411-419.
Gerhäuser, C. (2001) „Nuclear Factor ĸB Is a Molecular 60. Chen, X., Dang, T.T. and Facchini, P.J. (2015) „Noscapine
Target for Sulforaphane-mediated Anti-inflammatory comes of age‟, Phytochemistry, 111, pp. 7-13

How to cite this article:

Greenwell M and Rahman PKSM: Medicinal Plants: Their Use in Anticancer Treatment. Int J Pharm Sci Res 2015; 6(10): [Link]:
10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.6(10).4103-12.

All © 2013 are reserved by International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research. This Journal licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

This article can be downloaded to ANDROID OS based mobile. Scan QR Code using Code/Bar Scanner from your mobile. (Scanners are available on Google
Playstore)

International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research 4112

View publication stats