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:
Oldenlandia Diffusa
Ursolic acid isolated from Oldenlandia diffusa (Bai Hua She She Cao) inhibits growth & spread of various cancers such as lung cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, rectum cancer, Malignant tumours of brain, malignant melanoma, malignant ascites, lymphosarcoma and leukaemia. Ursolic acid works by a typical cytotoxic effect on cancer cells and by inducing apoptosis through superoxide burst and caspase activation. Other active principles of Oldenlandia diffusa are oldenlandosides, stigmasterol, oleanolic acid, beta-sitosterol, p-coumaric acid and flavonoid glycosides. Oldenlandia diffusa (Bai Hua She She Cao) and Scutellaria barbata (Pan-chih-lien) are used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat cancers of liver, lung and rectum. Water extracts of these two herbs possess antimutagenic properties and protect against cancer.
Panax Ginseng
Ginsenosides (panaxadiol and panaxatriol saponins) isolated from Panax ginseng inhibits growth & spread of various cancers such as cancers of breast, ovary, lung, prostate, colon, renal cell carcinoma, malignant melanoma, malignant lymphoma and leukaemia. Panaxadiol ginsenosides (Rb1,Rb2, Rc, Rd, Rg3, Rh2) and Panaxatriols ginsenosides (Re, Rf, Rg1, Rg2, Rhi) have both preventive and therapeutic role in cancer treatment. Ginsenosides possess strong anticancer activity against lung cancer and also prevent lung metastasis by blocking tumourangiogenesis. Compound K (a metabolite of ginsenosides) inhibits growth & spread of chemoresistant lung cancer. Ginsenosides Rc, Rd, Rg1 and Re overcome (reverse) P-glycoprotein mediated multidrug resistance to chemotherapy. Polysaccharides of Panax ginseng possess strong immunoenhancing and anticancer activities against many cancers, particularly lung cancer. These polysaccharides also reduce side effects of chemotherapy & radiotherapy. Panax ginseng also possesses antistress, hepatoprotective, haemopoietic, immunoenhancing, radioprotective, chemoprotective, and anti-inflammatory properties. Panax ginseng inhibits proliferation and seeding (metastases) in various cancers by inducing cell differentiation and apoptosis. Panax ginseng is effective in both hormone responsive & hormone refractory prostate and breast cancers.
Picrorhiza Kurroa
Cucurbitacins isolated from Picrorhiza kurroa have antitumour action. Studies have shown that Picrorhiza kurroa has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. Main chemical constituents of Picrorhiza kurroa are glycosides picroside I, II and III, picrorhizin, kutkoside, kurrin, kuthinol, kutkiol, kutkisterol, kutkoside, androsin, apocynin, drosin and cucurbitacin. The active constituents of Picrorhiza kurroa prevent liver toxicity caused by numerous toxic agents. Recent studies of the rhizome, have shown to boost the immune system. Kutkin isolated from Picrorhiza kurroa alters the structure of the outer membrane of the hepatocytes in such a way as to prevent penetration of the liver toxin into the interior of the cell. Iridoids and secoiridoids isolated from Picrorhiza kurroa have immunomodulatory and adaptogenic effects.
Piper Longum
Active Ingredient of Piper longum are piperine, rutin, beta-caryophyllene piperyline, piperoleines, piperamine, sabinene, chavicin, pinene, phellandrene, pentadecane, beta-bisabolene, linalool and limonene. Piperine isolated from alcoholic extract of Piper longum fruits possess immunomodulatory, antimetastatic and antitumor activity lymphoma, malignant ascites, lung cancer and malignant melanoma. Piperine is an N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonistic. Piperidine isolated from Piper longum possesses anticancer activity against cancer of the larynx. Piplartine and piperine alkaloidal amides isolated from Piper longum cytotoxic activity towards several tumor cell lines. Rutin protects against oxidative damage by inhibiting or quenching free radicals.
