Anticancer potential of Himalayan plants

Abstract

Plants used in traditional medicine have stood up to the test of time and contributed many novel compounds for preventive and curative medicine to modern science. India is sitting on a gold mine of well recorded and traditionally well practiced knowledge of herbal medicine. Specially, plants growing at high altitude in Himalayan pastures are time-honored sources of health and general well being of local inhabitants. As of today, Himalayan plants are a major contributor to the herbal pharmaceutical industry both of India and other countries. Plants growing at higher altitudes are subjected to an assault of diverse testing situations including higher doses of mutagenic UV-radiation, physiological drought, desiccation and strong winds. Plants interact with stressful environments by physiological adaptation and altering the biochemical profile of plant tissues and producing a spectrum of secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites are of special interest to scientists because of their unique pharmacophores and medicinal properties. Secondary metabolites like polyphenols, terpenes and alkaloids have been reported to possess antimutagenic and anticancer properties in many studies. The fundamental aspiration of the current review is to divulge the antimutagenic/anticancer potential of five alpine plants used as food or medicine by the populations living at high altitudes.

Evaluation of the cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of a natural antidepressant, Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s wort), on vegetal and animal test systems

“…In addition to these components, two classes of very active constituents were found exclusively in this genus, floroglucinoides, which are mainly hyperforin and adhiperforin, and naftodiantrones, such as hypericin and pseudohipericin [21]. …”

Rheum australe D. Don: A review of its botany, ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology

“…Various ancient texts have mentioned Rheum australe D. Don (Polygonaceae) being used for udara roga (stomach problems), amala pitta (gastritis), yakrit vikar (liver diseases), rakta moksha (blood purification) and rakta pradhara (menstrual problems). In addition to the Ayurveda system, Rheum australe is widely used in many traditional medical systems, such as the Chinese, homeopathic, Tibetan and Unani systems (Anonymous, 1972;Coburn, 1984;Lama et al, 2001;Babu et al, 2003;Bhatia et al, 2011;Rokaya et al, 2010).…”

Review on ethnomedicinal, phytochemical and pharmacological evidence of Himalayan anticancer plants

“…These plants are subjected to different environmental stresses including higher doses of mutagenic UV-radiation, physiological drought, desiccation and strong winds. Outcome of such stresses are physiological adaptation and alteration in the biochemical profile of plant tissues that leads to the production of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, polyphenols, terpenes and alkaloids already reported for their anticancer properties (Bhatia et al, 2011).…”

“…Unlike other studies on Himalayan anticancer plants, this review provided detailed information on the phytopharmacolgoical evidence of only those plants that carry traditional uses against cancer. For instance, Bhatia et al (2011) phytochemically reviewed Himalayan plants that were not locally used for cancer treatment or prevention. Here we discussed the phytopharmacological efficacies of different plants against most common cancer types in the following sub-sections.…”

“…In the Himalayan countries like Pakistan, India and Nepal, thousands of cancer deaths are reported every year (Akhtar, 2007;Bhatia et al, 2011). Himalaya is one of the planet's biggest biodiversity zones blessed with variety of plant resources (Kala and Mathur, 2002).…”