Tradition Meets Innovation: Herbal Medicine as a Sustainable Source of Anticancer Agents

Chinese Herbal Medicine-Based Cancer Therapy: Novel Anticancer Agents Targeting MicroRNAs to Regulate Tumor Growth and Metastasis

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine ◽

10.1142/s0192415x19500873 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 47 (08) ◽

pp. 1711-1735 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Fu Peng ◽

Xiaofang Xie ◽

Cheng Peng

Keyword(s):

Herbal Medicine ◽

Chinese Herbal Medicine ◽

Anticancer Agents ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Active Components ◽

Rna Molecules ◽

Chinese Herbal ◽

Non Coding Rna ◽

Wide Range ◽

Tumor Growth And Metastasis

MicroRNAs, small non-coding RNA molecules, have gained a reputation of the most substantial regulators in gene network with the ability to down-regulate their targets. Accumulating evidence shifted insight toward microRNAs regulation as the key element of cancer initiation, development, and aggression. Recent studies have attached the importance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to the treatment of various cancers, and the functional natural compounds have been considered as novel anticancer agents to directly inhibit tumor progression. In more recent decades, a wide range of biologically active components of TCM has gained increasing attention to their applications in the modulation of microRNAs. This review is on the purpose of demonstrating the significance of TCM bioactive ingredients in microRNAs regulation for cancer treatment according to the reports mainly in the recent six years, providing the evidence of efficient Chinese herbal medicine-based therapy and effective pro-diagnosis focusing on microRNAs expression of cancer patients.

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Traditional Herbal Medicine Mediated Regulations during Head and Neck Carcinogenesis

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom10091321 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1321

Author(s):

Xiang-Yun Lan ◽

Tzu-Ting Chung ◽

Chien-Ling Huang ◽

Yi-Jang Lee ◽

Wan-Chun Li

Keyword(s):

Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽

Herbal Medicine ◽

Head And Neck ◽

Anticancer Agents ◽

Treatment Efficacy ◽

Molecular Basis ◽

Clinical Use ◽

Key Factors ◽

Traditional Herbal Medicine ◽

Clinical Complications

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most prevalent neoplasms worldwide. It is well recognized that environmental challenges such as smoking, viral infection and alcohol consumption are key factors underlying HNSCC pathogenesis. Other than major clinical interventions (e.g., surgical resection, chemical and radiotherapy) that have been routinely practiced over years, adjuvant anticancer agents from Traditional Herbal Medicine (THM) are proposed, either alone or together with conventional therapies, to be experimentally effective for improving treatment efficacy in different cancers including HNSCCs. At a cellular and molecular basis, THM extracts could modulate different malignant indices via distinct signaling pathways and provide better control in HNSCC malignancy and its clinical complications such as radiotherapy-induced xerostomia/oral mucositis. In this article, we aim to systemically review the impacts of THM in regulating HNSCC tumorous identities and its potential perspective for clinical use.

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Exploring Herbal Medicine Use during Palliative Cancer Care: The Integrative Physician as a Facilitator of Pharmacist–Patient–Oncologist Communication

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph13120455 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (12) ◽

pp. 455

Author(s):

Noah Samuels ◽

Eran Ben-Arye

Keyword(s):

Herbal Medicine ◽

Anticancer Agents ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Case Scenario ◽

Oncology Patients ◽

Sentinel Node Dissection ◽

Herbal Products ◽

Belief Models ◽

Harmful Effects

Oncology patients frequently use herbal and other forms of complementary medicine, often without the knowledge of oncologists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals responsible for their care. Oncology healthcare professionals may lack the knowledge needed to guide their patients on the safe and effective use of herbal medicinal products, a number of which have potentially harmful effects, which include direct toxicity and negative herb–drug interactions. The current review addresses the prevalence and expectations of oncology patients from herbal medicine, as well as evidence for the beneficial or harmful effects of this practice (potential and actual), especially when the herbal products are used in conjunction with anticancer agents. Models of integrative oncology care are described, in which open and effective communication among oncologists, pharmacists, and integrative physicians on the use of herbal medicine by their patients occurs. This collaboration provides patients with a nonjudgmental and multidisciplinary approach to integrative medicine, echoing their own health-belief models of care during conventional cancer treatments. The role of the integrative physician is to facilitate this process, working with oncologists and pharmacists in the fostering of patient-centered palliative care, while ensuring a safe and effective treatment environment. Case scenario: W. is a 56 year old female artist who was recently diagnosed with localized hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Following lumpectomy and sentinel node dissection, she is scheduled to begin adjuvant chemotherapy with a regimen which will include adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel (AC-T protocol). She is worried about developing peripheral neuropathy and its impact on her ability to paint, and she asks about a number of dietary supplements which she heard could prevent this from happening: omega-3, vitamin E, alpha-lipoic acid, and acetyl-l-carnithine. She is concerned, however, that the supplements may negatively interact with her chemotherapy regimen.

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