Biologics: Targets & Therapy (Sep 2024)
Herbal Therapies for Cancer Treatment: A Review of Phytotherapeutic Efficacy
Abstract
Andrej Jenča,1,* David K Mills,2,* Hadis Ghasemi,3,* Elham Saberian,4,* Andrej Jenča,1 Amir Mohammad Karimi Forood,5 Adriána Petrášová,1 Janka Jenčová,1 Zeinab Jabbari Velisdeh,2 Hadi Zare-Zardini,6 Meysam Ebrahimifar7 1Klinika of Stomatology and Maxillofacial Surgery Akadémia Košice Bacikova, UPJS LF, Kosice, Slovakia; 2Molecular Science and Nanotechnology, College of Engineering and Science, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, 71272, USA; 3Department of Chemistry, College of Art and Science, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Edwardsville, IL, USA; 4Pavol Jozef Šafárik University, Klinika and Akadémia Košice Bacikova, Kosice, Slovakia; 5Biomedical Engineering Department, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA; 6Department of Biomedical Engineering, Meybod University, Meybod, Iran; 7Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University, Shahreza Branch, Shahreza*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hadi Zare-Zardini; Meysam Ebrahimifar, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Natural products have proven to be promising anti-cancer agents due to their diverse chemical structures and bioactivity. This review examines their central role in cancer treatment, focusing on their mechanisms of action and therapeutic benefits. Medicinal plants contain bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids and polyphenols, which exhibit various anticancer properties. These compounds induce apoptosis, inhibit cell proliferation and cell cycle progression, interfere with microtubule formation, act on topoisomerase targets, inhibit angiogenesis, modulate key signaling pathways, improve the tumor microenvironment, reverse drug resistance and activate immune cells. Herbal anti-cancer drugs offer therapeutic advantages, particularly selective toxicity against cancer cells, reducing the adverse side effects associated with conventional chemotherapy. Recent studies and clinical trials highlight the benefits of herbal medicines in alleviating side effects, improving tolerance to chemotherapy and the occurrence of synergistic effects with conventional treatments. For example, the herbal medicine SH003 was found to be safe and potentially effective in the treatment of solid cancers, while Fucoidan showed anti-inflammatory properties that are beneficial for patients with advanced cancer. The current research landscape on herbal anticancer agents is extensive. Numerous studies and clinical trials are investigating their efficacy, safety and mechanisms of action in various cancers such as lung, prostate, breast and hepatocellular carcinoma. Promising developments include the polypharmacological approach, combination therapies, immunomodulation and the improvement of quality of life. However, there are still challenges in the development and use of natural products as anti-cancer drugs, such as the need for further research into their mechanisms of action, possible drug interactions and optimal dosage. Standardizing herbal extracts, improving bioavailability and delivery, and overcoming regulatory and acceptance hurdles are critical issues that need to be addressed. Nonetheless, the promising anticancer effects and therapeutic benefits of natural products warrant further investigation and development. Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to advance herbal cancer therapy and integrate these agents into mainstream cancer treatment.Keywords: herbal, anti-cancer, chemotherapy, cancer therapy, drug resistance
