Cancer is the leading cause of death globally. World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that 70% of death caused by cancer occurs in low or middle income countries which may be due to unavailability of correct treatment or delayed medical support. Despite of different therapies available to cure the cancer or to prolong the life of cancer survivors; chemotherapy is still central to cancer therapy. Administration of chemotherapeutic drugs either independently or in combination with other therapies such as irradiation or surgery provides relief to cancer patients. Nitrogen mustards were the first anticancer agents used in chemotherapy in 1940s. Their clinical use accelerated the development of different anticancers drugs. Due to the reports of toxicities of these anticancer drugs, herbal remedies for cancer treatment found notion of oncologists. A number of herbal extracts and natural products have shown the potential of anticancer activity. They also reduce the toxicity of synthetic anticancer drugs. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is one of the herbal remedies with high anticancer potentia l and ability to mitigate the toxicities of anticancer drugs. The protective effects of garlic against the toxicities of anticancer drugs have been reported in a number of studies and it has also been reported that fresh garlic and aged garlic extra ct show considerable protective effects. Allicin (diallyl thiosulfinate) is the major pharmacological component of garlic which has attracted attention of the international medical field gradually due to its potential for disease prevention and trea tment. The major unique organosulfur compounds in aged garlic extract such as water-soluble S-allyl cysteine (SAC) and Sallylmercaptocysteine (SAMC) have potent antioxidant activity. Many reports show the protective potential of these garlic constituents against anticancer drug-induced toxicities. Here, we present review of toxicities caused by anticancer drugs and their mechanism of action along with the efficacy of some plant extracts and natural products in reducing toxicity of anticancer drugs with special reference to of garlic constituents.
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