Abstract

NATURAL DRUG THERAPY FOR CANCER- A REVIEW

Dasgupta Debaprotim *and Dash Suvakanta

ABSTRACT

Although tremendous improvement has been made in the development of novel cancer treatments, cancer remains a leading cause of death in the world. There are several medicines available in the market to treat the various types of cancer but no drug is found to be fully effective and safe. The major problem in the cancer chemotherapy and radio therapy is the toxicity of the established drugs. However plants and plant derived products have proved effective and safe in the treatment and management of cancers. These days most of the research work on cancer drugs is targeted on plants and plants derived natural products. Many natural products and their analogues have been identified as potent anti-cancer agents and day by day the anti-cancer property of various plants is being identified. Here an attempt is being made through this review to highlights the natural products and their analogues established as anti-cancer agents and the new plant species identified with anti-cancer properties either in vivo or in vitro. Herb has a vital role in the prevention and treatment of cancer. Different herbs are provided with their mechanism of action and the chemical constituent which are responsible for anticancer property. Cancer is a leading cause of mortality in the world. Plants are one of the main sources of biologically active ingredients. This is due to serious side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, many cancer patients seek alternative complementary methods of treatment. In the present review an attempt has been made to study the plants that have been used in the treatment of cancer as well as the other possible sources of anticancer agent.

Keywords: cancer, radiation therapy, plants.