Plants as a source of anti-cancer agents

Abstract

Plant-derived compounds have been an important source of several clinically useful anti-cancer agents. These include vinblastine, vincristine, the camptothecin derivatives, topotecan and irinotecan, etoposide, derived from epipodophyllotoxin, and paclitaxel (taxol A number of promising new agents are in clinical development based on selective activity against cancer-related molecular targets, including flavopiridol and combretastin A4 phosphate, while some agents which failed in earlier clinical studies are stimulating renewed interest.

Apoptosis-Inducing Activity of HPLC Fraction from Voacanga globosa (Blanco) Merr. on the Human Colon Carcinoma Cell Line, HCT116

“…Previous studies demonstrated that plant species related to V globosa activities. Examples of these include the chemotherapeutic drugs vincristine and vinblastine which are derived from Catharanthus roseus belonging to the same family (Apocynaceae) as V globosa (Cragg and Newman, 2005). Although many studies have demonstrated presence of bioactive compounds from the family Apocynaceae, very few studies have established bioactivity of compounds from Voacanga globosa.…”

Asparagus Racemosus Leaf Extract Inhibits Growth of UOK 146 Renal Cell Carcinoma Cell Line: Simultaneous Oncogenic PRCCTFE3 Fusion Transcript Inhibition and Apoptosis Independent Cell Death

“…Herbal components having anticancerous and immunomodulatory activity are required to be identified for cancer treatment. Many ayurvedic formulations are recognized for their ability as anti-cancer (Cragg et al, 2005), anti-inflammatory immunomodulatory and many other therapeutic uses. A. racemosus being a renowned Ayurvedic drug and its shoot extract has shown anti-tumor activity, it's of much interest to see the A. racemosus leaf components and its activity as a potent anticancer drug.…”

Nitric oxide synthesis inhibition and cytotoxicity of Korean horse mussel Modiolus modiolus extracts on cancer cells in culture

“…The steroids may exert as cytotoxic agent mediated by multiple signalling pathways. The growth of cancer cells might be inhibited through the interaction with tubulin in which it promotes the polymerisation of tubulin, thereby causing cell death by disrupting the normal microtubule dynamics required for cell division and vital interphase processes (Cragg and Newmon 2005). Furthermore, the steroids also inhibit STAT3 proteins (signal transducers and activators of transcription), which are important in cancer cell survival and proliferation (Aggarwal and Shishodia 2006).…”