A great deal of pharmaceutical research and refinement in isolation & structure elucidation technique has placed the scientists in a better position to identify various anticancer herbs. Scientists all over the world are now concentrating on the use of herbs to fight cancer. Over a period of two decades, with advanced knowledge of molecular science, Sino Vedic Cancer Research Centre has identified more than 450 anticancer herbs having antimutagenic, DNA repairing, proapoptotic, antitumourangiogenesis, immunomodulatory, chemoprotective and radioprotective properties. These anticancer herbs inhibit growth & spread of cancer and tame aggressive cancer cells by repairing damaged DNA, inhibiting mutations in the genes, blocking cancer promoting enzymes & hormones, reviving the process of apoptosis and inhibiting tumourangiogenesis. Some of the commonly used Sino Vedic anticancer herbs are listed below:
Withania Somnifera
Withanolides, the active constituents of Withania somnifera, are a group of pharmacologically active compounds present in roots and leaves. The withanolides are basically steroidal lactones. Withanolides isolated from Withania somnifera are similar to ginsenosides (the active principles of Panax ginseng) in both structure and activity. Withanolides (including Withaferin A, Sitoindoside IX, Physagulin D, Withanoside IV and Viscosalactone B) inhibit growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of the breast, lung, colon and central nervous system due to their antiproliferative and antiangiogenic properties. Withaferin-A (the most important withanolides) inhibit growth & spread of various cancers including that of the breast, cervix, colon, prostate, nasopharynx, larynx, malignant ascites and sarcomas by inducing apoptosis. Withaferin A is effective in both androgen responsive and androgen refractory prostate cancers. Sitoindosides VII-X and Withaferin A have strong antistress, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antiaging properties. Withanolide D inhibits the metastatic colony formation in the lungs by malignant melanoma. Ashwagandhanolide, a new dimeric withanolide, isolated from Withania somnifera, inhibits growth & spread in cancers of breast, stomach, colon, lung and central nervous system. Withania somnifera also possesses immunoenhancing, haemopoietic and neuroprotective properties and reduces side effects of radiotherapy & chemotherapy.
Zingiber Officinale
Zingiber officinale has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Zingiber officinale has anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, anti-platelet aggregation and anticancer properties. Zingiber officinale contains volatile oils (bisabolene, cineol, phellandrene, citral, borneol, citronellol, geranial, linalool, limonene, zingiberol, zingiberene, camphene), oleoresin (gingerols, shogaols), phenol (gingerol, zingerone), proteolytic enzyme (zingibain), vitamin B6, vitamin C, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium, Linoleic acid. The pungent flavour of Zingiber officinale is due to gingerol, which is the alcohol group of the oleoresin and its aroma is due to bisabolene, zingiberene and zingiberol. Gingerols isolated from Zingiber officinale inhibit growth & spread of various cancers including that of the ovary, cervix, colon, rectum, liver, urinary bladder, oral cavity, neuroblastoma and leukaemia by inducing apoptosis. The most active individual component, 6-shogaol, isolated from Zingiber officinale, inhibits growth & spread of many cancers particularly the ovarian cancer by blocking tumourangiogenesis and by inducing apoptosis & autophagy. It is effective even in chemotherapy resistant ovarian cancer. Zingiber officinale also possesses antimutagenic properties and reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy.
