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:
Gossypium Hirsutum
Gossypol isolated from Gossypium hirsutum inhibits growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of the breast, oesophagus, stomach, colon, liver, pancreas, adrenal gland, prostate, urinary bladder, malignant lymphoma, malignant ascites, brain tumours, sarcomas and leukaemia by inducing apoptosis and arresting cancer cell division in G0/G1 phase. The negative isomer of gossypol, (-) gossypol, inhibits growth & spread of chemotherapy & radiotherapy resistant cancers of prostate, breast, ovary, lung, pancreas, head & neck and brain by inducing apoptosis. Gossypolone, an oxidative metabolite of gossypol, inhibits growth & spread of various cancers including that of the breast, cervix, lung, malignant melanoma and leukaemia.
Morinda Citrifolia
A unique polysaccharide compound present in Morinda citrifolia, possesses hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory properties. Morinda citrifolia leaf extracts have been reported to have anticancer activity against nasopharyngeal carcinoma and cervical carcinoma. Damnacanthol, NB10 and NB11 isolated from Morinda citrifolia possess strong anticancer activity against various cancers particularly lung cancer. A polysaccharide rich substance from the fruit juice of Morinda citrifolia possesses antitumour activity against sarcoma and malignant ascites. Morinda citrifolia stimulates effector cells to release several mediators such as cytokines, which slow down the cell cycle in tumours, increase the response of cells to immune cells that fight tumour growth and have potent macrophage activator activity. Morinda citrifolia juice indirectly kills the cancer cells via activation of the cellular immune system involving macrophages, natural killer cells and T cells.
Nigella Sativa
Thymoquinone and dithymoquinone isolated from Nigella sativa have strong anticancer activity against various cancers including cancers of the colon, prostate, pancreas, uterus, malignant ascites, malignant lymphoma, malignant melanoma, sarcomas and leukaemia. Thymoquinone is effective in both hormone sensitive and hormone refractory prostate cancer. Nigella sativa kills cancer cells by binding to the asialofetuin (lectin) on the surface of cancerous cells, causing their aggregation and clumping. Nigella sativa also possesses immunoenhancing and anti-inflammatory properties. It protects against liver cancer. Nigella sativa enhances immune function of the body and reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy
Ocimum Sanctum
Ocimum sanctum contains tannins, ursolic acid. Main chemical constitutes of Ocimum sanctum are eugenol, eugenol derivatives, linolenic acid, rosmarinic acid and flavonoids such as orientin, vicenin, cirsilineol, cirsimaritin, isothymusin, isothymonin & apigenin. Ursolic acid isolated from Ocimum sanctum has immunoenhancing and tissue protective properties. Polysaccharides isolated from Ocimum sanctum have radioprotective properties. Ocimum sanctum protects against various cancers particularly breast cancer and reduces side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy. Ocimum sanctum inhibits growth & spread of various cancers such as breast cancer, liver cancer and sarcomas particularly fibrosarcoma by blocking supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cancer cells and killing them by starving.
