Medicinal Plants Used as Antitumor Agents in Brazil: An Ethnobotanical Approach

Abstract

We describe the medicinal plants that have been reported to be antitumor agents and that have been used in ethnobotanic research in Brazil to answer the following questions: what is the abundance of plants reported to be antitumor in Brazil? Have the plant species used for tumor treatment in traditional Brazilian medicine been sufficiently examined scientifically? Our analysis included papers published between 1980 and 2008. A total of 84 medicinal plant species were reported to be used for cancer and tumor prevention or treatment; 69.05% of these were cited as being used for the treatment of tumors and cancer in general and 30.95% for specific tumors or cancers. The plants that were cited at a higher frequency were Aloe vera, Euphorbia tirucalli, and Tabebuia impetiginosa. At least, one pharmacological study was found for 35.71% of the species. Majority of the studies selected were conducted in rural communities and urban areas and in areas with traditional healers in Brazil. We found the following molecules to be the most studied in vitro and in vivo: silibinin, β-lapachone, plumbagin and capsaicin. The species addressed here constitute interesting objects for future studies to various professionals in the field of natural products.

Anacardic acid (6-pentadecylsalicylic acid) induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through inhibition of androgen receptor and activation of p53 signaling

“…Tand have shown certain therapeutic effects, both in vitro or in vivo (2,3). Anacardic acid (AA) is a mixture of 2-hydroxy-6-alkylbenzoic acid homologs and is commonly found in Anacardiaceae family (4,5).…”

Vegetais Cultivados Em Quintais Rurais Piauienses Com Indicação Anticâncer: Uma Busca Pelo Conhecimento Tradicional

“…Através de uma análise de trabalhos etnobotânicos publicados entre a década de 80 até 2008, Melo et al (2011) apresentam plantas medicinais que foram referidas como anticâncer, em que 84 espécies são citadas como sendo usadas ao tratamento e prevenção do câncer, seja de um modo geral ou contra alguma espécie de tumor específico.…”

Cytotoxic effect ofErythroxylum daphnitesextract is associated with G1cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

“…[16][17][18][19][20][21][22] Among the medicinal plants used for the treatment or prevention of cancer, only 84 species were subjected to rigorous studies and only 35.71% of these species were subjected to pharmacological studies to test their activity. 20 The most frequently cited species are Aloe vera (Aloaceae), Euphorbia tirucalli (Euphorbiaceae), and Tabebuia impetiginosa. 20 Cerrado biome covers a large area of the Brazilian territory and has a great potential as a natural source of compounds for the pharmaceutical industry.…”

“…20 The most frequently cited species are Aloe vera (Aloaceae), Euphorbia tirucalli (Euphorbiaceae), and Tabebuia impetiginosa. 20 Cerrado biome covers a large area of the Brazilian territory and has a great potential as a natural source of compounds for the pharmaceutical industry. 15,[23][24][25] Many species found in this biome are popularly used for the treatment of various diseases, including cancer.…”