Roles of Natural Compounds from Medicinal Plants in Cancer Treatment: Structure and Mode of Action at Molecular Level

Background: Among non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in global communities. By 2030, CVD-related deaths are projected to reach a global rise of 25 million. Obesity, smoking, alcohol, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and hyperhomocysteinemia are several known risk factors for CVDs. Elevated homocysteine is tightly related to CVDs through multiple mechanisms, including inflammation of the vascular endothelium. The strategies for appropriate management of CVDs are constantly evolving; medicinal plants have received remarkable attention in recent researches, since these natural products have promising effects on the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases. The effects of nutraceuticals and herbal products on CVD/dyslipidemia have been previously studied. However, to our knowledge, the association between herbal bioactive compounds and homocysteine has not been reviewed in details. Thus, the main objective of this study is to review the efficacy of bioactive natural compounds on homocysteine levels according to clinical trials and animal studies. Results: Based on animal studies, black and green tea, cinnamon, resveratrol, curcumin, garlic extract, ginger, and soy significantly reduced the homocysteine levels. According to the clinical trials, curcumin and resveratrol showed favorable effects on serum homocysteine. In conclusion, this review highlighted the beneficial effects of medicinal plants as natural, inexpensive, and accessible agents on homocysteine levels based on animal studies. Nevertheless, the results of the clinical trials were not uniform, suggesting that more well-designed trials are warranted.

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Virtual screening of natural compounds as combinatorial agents from indian medicinal plants against estrogen positive breast cancer

International Journal on Integrated Education ◽

10.31149/ijie.v3i10.750 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (10) ◽

pp. 266-275

Author(s):

Shaleen Jain ◽

Dr. Asmita Das

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Estrogen Receptor ◽

Virtual Screening ◽

Medicinal Plants ◽

Natural Compounds ◽

Binding Energies ◽

Common Amino Acid ◽

Estrogen Receptor Positive ◽

Positive Breast Cancer

Facing worldwide challenges associated with multifactorial etiology of breast cancer, designing of combinatorial therapies using natural compounds is currently the emergent way of treating several cancers including breast cancer in a synergistic way, which may mitigate several problems associated with multiple receptor targeting. In this research, Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer was taken as prototype and several key receptors associated with this particular disease were targeted by virtual screening of natural compounds found in Indian originated medicinal plants using Computer aided Drug Designing (CADD) strategies. We found the combination of Carpusin, Paulownin Cornigerine, Nororientaline, Oryzalexin B, Romucosine H and Colchicine as effective against six potential receptors i.e. FGFR2, ESR1, PIK3CA, PIK3CB, PIK3CD and AR in Estrogen receptor positive breast cancer with their binding energies in the range of ∆G ≤ -8.0 Kcal/mol as well as significant number of common amino acid binding residues as compared with binding sites of receptors. Thus this research holds significant implications for the designing of combinatorial therapeutic agents against breast cancer which can be further tested in-vitro and in-vivo to prove their synergistic efficiency.

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Review on medicinal plants and natural compounds as anti-Onchocerca agents

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-018-6003-7 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 117 (9) ◽

pp. 2697-2713 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Dieudonné Ndjonka ◽

Boursou Djafsia ◽

Eva Liebau

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Natural Compounds

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Immunometabolism Modulation, a New Trick of Edible and Medicinal Plants in Cancer Treatment

Food Chemistry ◽

10.1016/j.foodchem.2021.131860 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 131860

Author(s):

Wen Tan ◽

Tingrui Pan ◽

Shengpeng Wang ◽

Peng Li ◽

Yongfan Men ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Medicinal Plants ◽

Cancer Treatment

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Ethnopharmacological Survey of Herbal Remedies Used for the Treatment of Cancer in the Greater Casablanca-Morocco

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2019/1613457 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Mohammed Bourhia ◽

Abdelaaty Abdelaziz Shahat ◽

Omer Mohammed Almarfadi ◽

Fahd Ali Naser ◽

Wael Mostafa Abdelmageed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Herbal Medicine ◽

Medicinal Plants ◽

Cancer Treatment ◽

Traditional Medicine ◽

Local Population ◽

Traditional Healers ◽

Herbal Remedies ◽

Traditional Herbal Medicine ◽

Ethnobotanical Survey ◽

Scientific Validity

Medicinal plants played an important role in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases since antiquities. The aim of the study is to carry out an ethnobotanical survey on medicinal plants used traditionally in cancer treatment in the region of Greater Casablanca-Morocco, and to enhance the traditional herbal medicine knowledge. 110 traditional healers in the study area were interviewed face to face to response a survey questionnaire including the names of plants used in cancer treatment, used parts, methods of preparation, and route of administration. Indices of Fidelity Level (FL), Use Value (UV), and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were calculated to identify the most effective plants used for cancer treatment. Eight species were specified including Aristolochia baetica, Aristolochia paucinervis, Bryonia dioica, Aquilaria malaccensis, Marrubium vulgare, Lavandula maroccana, Ephedra alata, and Euphorbia resinifera belonging to 7 families. Aristolochiaceae, Aquilariaceae, and Cucurbitaceae were the most useful families in cancer treatment with high significant indices of UV, FL, and RFC with values of 1, 100%, and 1, respectively. Roots and leaves were the most commonly used plant parts. Decoction and powder mixed with honey were the frequently used method for remedies preparation. The present study showed that the people living in Morocco’s economic capital are still highly dependent on traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of cancer. Therefore, it seems that herbal medicine still plays a crucial role in the primary healthcare system for the local population. During this survey, it was reported that even some plant families are highly toxic for humans like Aristolochiaceae that are frequently used in cancer treatment in the study area. As many people still rely on natural traditional medicine considering (it is safe with no side effects), so combined effort between all social categories including scientists and traditional healers should be established for involving the scientific validity of the used plants in the treatment of diseases.

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