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:
Bauhinia Variegata
Bauhinia variegata contains flavonoids and fatty acid compounds such as linolenic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid and myristic acid. Bauhinia variegata seeds contain lectin. Flavanones isolated from Bauhinia variegata stem bark possesses anticancer activity against various cancers including leukaemia, non-small cell lung cancer, colon cancer, tumours of brain & spinal cord, melanoma, ovarian cancer, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer and breast cancer. Cyanidin glucoside, malvidin glucoside, peonidin glucoside and kaempferol galactoside isolated from Bauhinia variegata inhibit growth & spread of various cancers including that of breast, lung, liver, oral cavity, larynx, malignant lymphoma and malignant ascites by inducing apoptosis. Bauhinia variegata also possesses significant hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, chemopreventive and immunomodulatory activity.
Berberis Vulgaris
Berberis vulgaris root contains berberine, berbamine, chelidonic acid, citric acid, columbamine, hydrastine, isotetrandrine, jacaranone, magnoflorine, oxycanthine and palmatine. Berberine (an isoquinoline alkaloid), possesses anticancer, immunoenhancing and anti-inflammatory properties. Berberine arrests cancer cell cycle in G1-phase and induces apoptosis. Berberine possesses strong anticancer activity against prostate cancer, liver cancer and leukaemia. Berberine interferes with P-glycoprotein in chemotherapy-resistant cancers. Berberine also increases the penetration of some chemotherapy drugs through the blood-brain barrier, thereby enhancing their effect on intracranial tumours. Berberis vulgaris root bark contains three phenolic compounds, tyramine, cannabisin-G and lyoniresinol. Cannabisin-G protects against breast cancer. Berberis vulgaris also inhibits growth of stomach and oral cavity cancers.
Catharanthus Roseus
Catharanthus roseus or Vinca rosea (Madagascar periwinkle) contains more than 70 alkaloids, known as vinca alkaloids including Vinblastine, Vincristine and their derivatives. Vinca alkaloids arrest cancer cell proliferation by binding to tubulin in the mitotic spindle. Vinca alkaloids also induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) and inhibit tumourangiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels). Vinca alkaloids inhibit growth & spread of various cancers including that of breast, ovary, cervix, lung, colon, rectum, testis, neuroblastoma, Hodgkin’s disease, malignant lymphoma, multiple myeloma, various sarcomas, rhabdomyosarcoma and leukaemia.
Curcuma Longa
Curcumin (Di-feruloyl-methane) and curcuminoids isolated from Curcuma longa suppress cancer at every step, i.e. initiation, growth and metastasis. Curcumin arrests the cancer cells proliferation in G2/S phase and induces apoptosis (programmed cell death). It inhibits angiogenesis, a crucial step in the growth and metastasis of cancer. Curcumin and Genistein (isolated from Glycine max) act synergistically to inhibit growth & spread of oestrogen positive breast cancer. Curcumin works even in multidrug resistant breast cancer. Curcumin suppresses adhesion of cancer cells, thus preventing metastasis. Curcumin inhibits growth & spread of various cancers including that of breast, lung, oesophagus, liver, colon, prostate, head & neck and skin. Curcumin is particularly effective in radiotherapy resistant prostate cancer. Curcumin is effective even in advanced stages of cancer. Curcumin also protects from stomach cancer and colon cancer. Curcuma longa also possesses antimutagenic, immunostimulant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and radioprotective properties.
